Its nearing the time that I do "pass the Torch" to Latigo and Liz. We don't yet know if Rosemary will be part of that equation, but, God willing, she may yet.
Liz is learning like a house afire, and with a close family friend (Monique), she and Lat will carry on the traditon of true Graphics and Mural Carving at St.Marie Graphics.
Lat knows nearly as much as I about carving and layout, and with the help of a new 60" Digital Printer, Liz will be running the front end of the studio. I intend being there for a few hours each day, but as of last Monday, Latigo is in complete charge of the studio. His and Liz's hourly wages will disappear very soon and I will become the paid employee. I'll assist with artwork and carving until Lat is satisfied that I'm no longer needed on a daily basis.
My main purpose will soon be the wellbeing of Lyn and Rosemary, full time. If Rosemary does indeed recover 100%, there will be four of them running the studio, otherwise I'll remain as long as Lat needs me.
Rosemary's new home will soon be under construction here in Lost Prairie, and we'll be giving Lat and Liz their first home in the spring. My dream is to have all of the St.Maries on the same land. I had determined long ago that my kids would be given the wherewithal to begin their lives on an even keel. Now I'm doing just that.
St.Marie Graphics has been good to us, now it's the kids' turn to make it give them a good living. I'll have plenty of time to devote to my beloved swissrifles.com and plenty of shooting.
To seal the deal I'm buying a new Indian Chief motorcycle. I've waited 30 years to have one again, and now ah'm a gunna do it!
heh.............
The Torch couldn't be passed into more deserving hands. Love your children and they'll love theirs.
k31
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Thanks for sharing, Pierre, seems like a great transition. The family is so fortunate that you are practical-minded. Very nice that you keep the family so tight-knit. Have a good day, give my blessings to everyone, your friend, Deb Fowler
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Yes, you are "my friend", Deb Fowler.
k31
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
quote: ...until Lat is satisfied that I'm no longer needed on a daily basis.
Pierre, didn't you make the comment recently about the kids promising you & Lyn that you'd both die at home? Now Lat gets to make the call when you are no longer needed.
Hmmm, I think I'd start sleeping with one eye open.
I'm sure the shop will be in good hands. Glad you get to see your dreams develop. Now that you'll have more time on your hands, does that mean you'll be hanging out here in Letterville more too?
And you know what else, "passing the torch" seems to be a great opportunity for you guys to plan a meet. (hint, hint) Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
That's pretty cool Pierre. (I mean that the kids will let you hang around and feel useful like that, aren't they swell)
My hat's off to you. Only hope I can make such a speech one day. But don't make yourself scarce around here ok - it's you old timers that give this place, oops, I mean give 'em hell!
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Actually I'm sure I'll be hanging out here a lot more. As for a meet, Lyn is planning a massive expansion here in Lost prairie. Additional housing availabilty for the recording studio will translate into facilities for meets, be they Swiss Shooting or Letterhead. We're at 4,500sf now with 5 bedrooms and a barracks, but we intend adding another building with private rooms and restrooms this winter. Once the new shop building is up we'd have room for a rather large Letterhead meet right here.
The grounds are extensive and we'll have both Power/water and septic hookups for campers and McGregor Lake resort is right down the road with cabins as well.
Lyn is most excited about putting in an all-year swimming pool and new spa, all covered with a dome for winter use. The entry will be through a spacious greenhouse that's attatched to the existing indoor spa/tanning bed room. The theraputic value for Lyn is a real necessity anyway, so I can certainly justify it.
We're approaching the time to do things for ourselves. Once the kids are well established we'll turn our attention to Lost Prairie.
One of my own pet projects is the grooming of a dirt-bike course on the back end of the property. I'm looking forward to all of this, and I'm fortunate to have a soulmate like Lyn.
k31
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Pierre, I am happy for you and your family, but dont get rusty eh? lol
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Power to the man that shares his Knowledge!
Pierre you are heading down a Sunhine filled road and I hope that Indian Cycle gives you a smooth ride. Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Heh........ Lyn has already given me all the warnings about riding again, and believe me!!.. if you've ever felt a Darning Egg you'll understand why I'll be riding that bike sllllllllllllow and in the daylight. (Her requisites)
Anyhoo, I won't be getting rusty. Lat tells me that my hand will be in every carving for as long as I can swing a mallet.
BTW........ Wait till we get the pics of the Glacier National Park Red Jammer Bus carving posted on the website. This was Lat's first time carving human features. Blew me away.
k31
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
What an example!!! Talk about modelling a proper and fitting behavior...Pierre, you are one of my hero's. It's rare to find men that strong these days. Thank you for being my friend.
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Actually, Rick, it's truly the reverse. I know of no man on this board that is as kind, controlled, considerate and knowledgeable as you. Si is a close second except he's about as cranky as I am. heh......
You and I know the simple formula. Love your children and treat them as equals within the family. Everything else just sorta falls into place.
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
I echo what Rick said! Other than roots, and wings and a place to call home, the best thing we can give our children is a consistent example for decent behavior that is credible. I also love what you say about all of you being together. Enjoy!
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Everything sounds fantastic Pierre. I hope I am as good a parent as you seem to be. I sure know I try hard!!
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
I salute you Pierre...
In this day & age it's really nice to see such a great example of 'family'.
I doubt my kid's will follow in my shoes. We're a close, stable, family unit and I'm blessed with two great children, but at this point in their lives (20, 16) neither of my kids has shown any interest in the family business. Where we live in a remote, one industry town, where (sadly) there is little future for young people, I suspect that Marie & I will be relocating upon retirement to live closer to our kids and presumably grandkids, wherever they may end up.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Pierre...yer a LUCKY man! Ihope you REALLY enjoy your semi-retirment as much as I am enjoying mine! Unfortunately my 2 kids were not interested in the sign biz.
Now that you will have spare time, think of all the sign meets and shoots that you will have time for!
PS listen to Lyn....those Indians are a bit much for old farts like us!
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Love them INDIAN CHIEFS.....I'm an old INDIAN rider.Was the proud owner of one of the last 5 made, plus numerous others......Scouts, 841s, Savannahs.....etc. What a crock the new ones are, eh?
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
I started in the sign business at age 19 as a helper on a crane truck to Lorin Wehmer, age 62 at the time. Wehmer regaled me with tales of riding his Indian as one of the original five in the Nebraska Highway Patrol.
At 62, he could work us young guys into the ground and never failed to delight in doing so. He used the aerial ladder on that truck like a set of stairs, hauling transformers, ballasts and lamps up and down without ever using his hands to steady himself. That sense of balance probably helped keep him out of trouble during his motorcycle days.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Pierre, I forget a lot of the details from the book Lonesome Dove, but somehow when I hear you talk about Lost Prairie & the wholesome sounding family bond out there, & maybe some of the gunslinging as well, I get this impression of you being that guy "Call" or "Macall" or whatever that old Texas ranger was named who ran those cattle up to a barely inhabited Montana back in the Indian days, then rode back down south to bury his buddy in the south, & then rumor has it, rode back north to start a family carving business.
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
You're a romantic, Doug! Well, its after midnight and Lyn and I have wished each other a Happy 30th Anniversary. We both thank all of you for your kind comments and observations. Neither of us feel that we've done anything spectacular. We've loved each other and our children since day one. I suppose the surprise for us is that we looked up one day and found that many of the parents in our circle of aquaintances had simply taken a different tack. I guess we took the right one.
P
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Stephanie here: Well Congratulations! Don't know many folks that have stayed together 30 years! (come to think of it I don't know you but it feels like we do) Thankfully my parents have stayed together through thick and thin. I like the sense of humour you and Rosemary bring.Turning a "boring old post" into something you want to read. I figure that's what you've probably managed to do with your trade to keep your children involved. I'd like to be more like that. I have a bro and sister-in-law in Kalispell. He does handy-man work now. He used to be involved in the family business of moving /repairing pianos. I hope you and your wife have a fulfilling, renewing, and peaceful day and a bit of good news. Stephanie and James
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
It brought a warm feeling and a smile to my face as I read your plans for the future.
I hope all things work out well for all of you.
Your family's spirit holds a lot of strength, respect and love in togetherness.
Nettie
Posted by Pam Eddy (Member # 1858) on :
Pierre,
You and your family are just good people. Not only do you have a wealth of knowlege that you share about signs, but about good family life and the way family should be with each other.
So many do not take the right road as you mentioned. But you and Rosemary remind us with every post how much effort we need to put into our personal relationships and children. One friend of mine has children who are always in trouble. She commented that she was "dealt bad seeds" and everyone else had kids better than hers. What an attitude.
As we spoke on the phone recently, you mentioned all the time Lyn put into research on Rosemary's health problems. It sounds like the right doctors would never have been found without her countless hours of searching. What a good mom. She deserves an incredibly big pat on the back for not giving up or settling for what the first doctors gave as a diagnoses.
You have a very smart wife, have fun in your semi-retirement, but listen to her about the bike. O.K.?
Pam
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Pierre and Lynn,
Happy Anniversary also! I'm sure all of letterville is tickled for you too!
Speaking of Indians, my ex has a 1938 Indian Scout (he is now giving that to Arthur's older brother. Also a Vincent, Harley 47 Knucklehead with a sidecar, and some Studebakers. We lived and breathed bikes for many years.
I am still getting his mail of the All American Indian Motorcycle News (a lot of swap meet stuff, parts, buy and sell ads, and meet info, pretty cool.
I am very, very honored that you consider me your friend, and mention that, it warms my heart and gives me a tremendous boost. You have shown me a great friendship through the years here. What's great is that you take the time to educate yourself and your family on your passions and talents. Your family has wonderful spiritual gifts in many areas. This is so special.
And, Pierre, and Lynn, I feel this from the bottom of my heart: Your family what you are is that you treasure others so much, may you have sunshine in your days ahead, (signed one of your many friends that treasure you), Deb
[ July 13, 2003, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Steph, Nettie, Pam.... Thank you. You're cool peoples. This is a unique community. "Hearts on sleeves" is commonplace here, and without the phony patronization found on the majority of the net.
So.... Our Deb is a biker babe! Very cool. Looking at her picture of docile femininity its hard to imagine Deb in leathers on a harley. heh.... Pam, I ALways listen to Lyn. She's the main reason I'm still alive! She's the balancing factor to my "reflex" way of doing things.
You know, every time I leave Montana for whereverthehell, I always experience this internal sigh of relief when I cross that state line and know I'm back home. It's not something conscious, but its there and I feel a change somehow. I get that same feeling every day when I get home to Lost Prairie, walk into the house and Lyn is there. You know how there are some husbands and wives that don't last long after their mate has passed away? I know I'm one of them. Not only that, Rosemary informed me long ago that "if Mom goes first, I"M MOVING BACK INTO THE HOUSE!... and by the way... there won't be any lady visitors out here". Yup. That's my Pooh.
heh..........
k31
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Hey, Congratulations to you both on your Anniversary. Letting go of that torch gracefully can sometimes be a tough thing to do. Believe it or not, your kids might be a bit "intimidated" by your presence. I've worked for a company where this has happened, and although the son would never think of telling his dad directly, he was sometimes hesitant about making those kinds of decisions where there was an element of "risk" involved, because he was walking in his dad's shadow. He'd grown up in the business, but a lot of things present were carry-overs from what his dad had put into place. Case in point: This company had a logo design that was right out of the 50's and no longer represented what they were involved with. The son wouldn't think of changing that logo, because it was something that his dad had established, and he felt that it would be like putting his mark onto something his dad had built. That kind of "intimidation" is what I'm meaning. I'm sure that it isn't intended, but it can be an element that's present, none the less.
When taking over the reins, kids have to feel that they're in charge completely, and right or wrong, THEIR decisions will be SUPPORTED completely, by those passing the torch. If they don't have the freedom to make some mistakes, they will be inhibited in their growth potential. It may be important to re-affirm your committment to them and to re-inforce your trust in their decisions occasionally. This can be a tough thing to do sometimes, but I do have a sense that if anyone can see the wisdom in this tack, then you are that sort of person.
Enjoy your semi-retirement, sit back, and watch your kids soar to new highs with great pride. I'm certain that they're most capable of doing you both proud! Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Good post, Ken. Unfortunately I'll pfobably have to be here a couple hours a day for the forseeable future. Liz isn't far enough along in her training and original artwork is required on a nearly daily basis. I didn't discover Lat's hidden talents until last year, so his education in illustrating will take a while. The other side of the coin is the extreme diversity of this studio. There are so many facets for the kids to master that I'm sure they'll require my background presence for a while. I'll be a paid employee within 3 weeks, and the only input will be if and when I'm asked, or if I see something irreversible happening affecting their income. It won't be easy, but I've assured them all that they have the reins. The old horse will follow along behind.
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