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From time to time, when I'm working in the shop and don't want to be interupted by running to the phone I will put the shop phone on forward to my cell...today that really paid off!
When I answered the call I heard this familiar sound of a voice...the voice said "Do you make signs"?
I like to fell over as I retorted "and if I did what would you want"?
Then that familiar laugh I've enjoyed every since the first day I met him over 38 years ago.It was one of my mentors and one of the finest gold leaf men Denver Colorado had to offer. His name is George Woodword and he was calling to tell me he had just finished two 4'x8' signs for his gandsons car lot.
Over the years I have taken the time to visit with George everytime I go back to Denver...we have some good times talking and laughing about all the things that happened to this guy and that...years ago he gave me a sign Kit that I still use today... I figure it to be close to a hundred years old (based on some of the items found indside).
He told me that he had heard I was "in town" recently and as he went thru some " stuff" he found my business card and thought "what the hell, I think I'll call"...and so he did.
It sure made my day to find out someone I love and respect actually thinks of me when I'm not around and thought enough of me to call... say hello and and let me know he still can swing a brush...Oh did I tell you? George is 91 years old.
Ya gotta love it...and I do!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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I know what you mean about this old guys with all this info that goes with them if they don't find someone like you to pass it onto.
I feel very fortunate to have two guys like this at phone call away. Some of you might know Wild Bill or Bill Betz. Steve calls him one of the best gold leafers around. He is a great guy who is always willing to show me something new whenever I have to go to his shop and pick something up. I even hear that he might have another Letterhead meet.
The other is Russ Wills. He makes all my channel letters, illuminated signs, and razzes me every chance he gets. He too, is a phone call away and sometimes I have to call a couple times a day for advice on some situation that I have gotten myself into. Recently he walked me through cleaning and using GripFlex.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Glad to hear you got the call from your mentor. Does start the memories flowing doesn't it?
I don't want to burst your high, but make a point of keeping in touch with him. I got a reality check this week. My mentor calls every Tuesday afternoon while his wife is off doing volunteer work. He called this Tuesday with the usual chit chat about signs, life and politics, Wednesday morning he had a stroke. He is 86 and has heart trouble and high blood pressure too. I'm not ready to give him up. We don't know at this point the extent of the damage.
Time is precious, these guys are precious. Take the time away from work to keep in touch with your 91 year old friend. Things can change awfully fast.
Don't mean to bring you down, enjoy every conversation with him.
Pam
-------------------- Pam Eddy Niles, MI ple@qtm.net Posts: 467 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2000
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Monte, I truly beleive that Gratitdue is a major ingredient in the glue that holds any society together. We need to remind each other to not just feel it, but express it. Thank you. Your call blessed me!
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6860 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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