grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Built by Tom Tate

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In 1954, Daddy built this piece of furniture in high school shop class. Staci and I used it as our night stand for years and then it was Tate’s. Now it’s in our Fayetteville house.
It belongs back in Arkansas.
When I was in 9th grade, I decided to take shop instead of home ec. I thought I might build some furniture too.  Daddy ix-nayed this idea right away, saying you only want to take shop because Craig is in that class… I was forced to go straight to home ec with all the girls. Turned out to be pretty fun other than the sewing debacle. And I still managed to spend plenty of time with Craig…
Craig and Me 2011
That little night stand is sturdy and very well built with dove-tailed joints. He did a great job on it. In the back of the drawer, upside down and hidden, Daddy burned an inscription into the wood, Built By Tom Tate 1954. The inscription is only visible when the drawer is emptied and removed. The inscription itself is a treasure, written in Daddy’s hand.
The little drawer has held all sorts of trinkets beginning in 1962. During the past year, Tate’s room has been empty, but the little drawer still held his things. Things left behind. Some not touched in years. A time capsule from childhood through high school. Plastic ninja toys from Ci-Ci’s Pizza, his Harry Potter Halloween glasses, guitar pics, golf tees, boy scout badges, his lifeguard whistle, a Little People person… 

Now it’s empty and polished and sitting by our bed in Fayetteville. I’m not sure what will end up in it, but I know whenever I go, it’s going with me. Until it can’t.
talya
Musical Pairings:
I Love, Tom T Hall
Craig and Me 1966?

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Comments

  1. This brought a tear to my eyes this morning. Did Thomas sign the bookcase? I can’t remember.

    Loved this. Mom

  2. Loved the story about the chest that Thomas built. This brings back alot of good memories that we all shared. We graduated with alot of smart students and talented people.

  3. Loved this post! Sweet, sweet story! I know you’ll always cherish that beautiful table! I’m the same way about things my Daddy builds! His lastest is a gorgeous wagon wheel picnic table that is sitting on his and Mom’s amazing front porch, which he also built. 🙂
    Love you, Ashley

  6. I shed a few tears myself reading this one! VERY touching and sweet! What a beautiful pc of sentimental craftsmanship from your beloved daddy. To be cherished forever!!! Talya’s cuz. 🙂

  7. I hate to one-up you, but I’ve been repainting my dad’s kitchen cupboards and drawers. Everyone I sand and paint, I wonder when he did it, and what he was thinking. Too late to ask him, so I’ll have to make it up–in the sequel. I also have a tool box and a wooden stool and a plastic swan that my sons crafted in their shop classes. Double treasures. Loved the look back,but who is Craig? I’ve either missed that or forgotten.

    • Guess everyone doesn’t know Craig – LOL. He is one of my best friends. Our families have been friends forever – vacations together, etc.

  8. I have a book shelf Daddy built for my dorm room when I was in college. It will go everywhere I go until, as you said, it can’t. It’s not as pretty as the store-bought’n ones it sits next to, but it means a lot more to me.

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