Happy Birthday Pops. James Marion Fishel would have been 91 today. My grandpa (and grandma) raised me, and a better break I will never have. He wasn't physically large, but in all the ways that matter - accountability, integrity, honesty - he was a giant of a man. He grew up hardscrabble, one of many sons in a poor family of farmers. Such was their situation that when breakfast was served you ate fast or you worked that day hungry. Pops always ate fast to the very end lol; I remember him waiting patiently long after he was done eating while Grandma and I finished our meals.
He did what he had to do to raise three girls. That meant moving around a bit, but he was determined to provide for his family. He was as tough as a two dollar steak. He once spent a summer in Southern California on a crew digging swimming pools BY HAND. Read that one again.
My Grandpa was the hardest working man I have seen or will ever see. He never took a day off, and worked as hard toward the end of the day as he did at the start. I know. I saw it firsthand. I am a damn good carpenter and he taught me much of what makes me so to this day. How many of my brothers know what takeoffs are? Not many I bet. They are just one of the many things I learned from him, along with the essentials - work hard and well, and don't allow others to move you away from that. Take pride in what you do. He told me more than once that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and two days to destroy it. Wise words.
I learned so much from him, but I wish I had paid better attention because I could have learned so much more. I spent my formative years at the feet of a master and didn't know enough to soak it all in. I have to get by on what I did manage to pick up, but that is no fault of his. He was there for me every step of the way. Every. Single. Step.
Pops, you will always be my hero, my inspiration, and the man I wish I could be. I love you. Enjoy your rest. You earned it.
EDIT: That's me next to the man in the second pic. I never had it so good.
He did what he had to do to raise three girls. That meant moving around a bit, but he was determined to provide for his family. He was as tough as a two dollar steak. He once spent a summer in Southern California on a crew digging swimming pools BY HAND. Read that one again.
My Grandpa was the hardest working man I have seen or will ever see. He never took a day off, and worked as hard toward the end of the day as he did at the start. I know. I saw it firsthand. I am a damn good carpenter and he taught me much of what makes me so to this day. How many of my brothers know what takeoffs are? Not many I bet. They are just one of the many things I learned from him, along with the essentials - work hard and well, and don't allow others to move you away from that. Take pride in what you do. He told me more than once that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and two days to destroy it. Wise words.
I learned so much from him, but I wish I had paid better attention because I could have learned so much more. I spent my formative years at the feet of a master and didn't know enough to soak it all in. I have to get by on what I did manage to pick up, but that is no fault of his. He was there for me every step of the way. Every. Single. Step.
Pops, you will always be my hero, my inspiration, and the man I wish I could be. I love you. Enjoy your rest. You earned it.
EDIT: That's me next to the man in the second pic. I never had it so good.