THE COMPASS by Tammy Kling and John Spencer Ellis

How many summers or falls do you have left?
This is just one of the many profound questions and statements found in this easy to read story. Jonathan found himself in an unfathomable tragedy and he could not comprehend what to do about it, how to live within it. So he started walking away from it. On this journey he begins to meet people who have or have had hardships of their own and all of them have wisdom and a lifestyle they share with Jonathan. Each person who teaches Jonathan a lesson also teaches you a lesson as you read this book. This book is very inspirational.
So how many summers or falls do you have left? At age 51 I could say twenty or thirty reasonably but it is possible that this is the last one. I know… what a morbid thought. But it’s also a true realization. There are no guarantees in life. So what do I do? Live it like it’s the last one seems like a good idea.

The Coping Saw

The first time I used a coping saw was in 7th or 8th grade woodshop class for making a Colonial style candle holder. Before that moment I had only cut wood in a straight line, well mostly straight. I thought it was so cool that I could give wood a shape and with a little sandpaper make it look good. So today I went to North Park Hardware on University Ave and bought myself a Coping Saw for $9.98. I took it home and made the simple yet practical item you see in the photos. It is a support board for the wooden rod in my daughter’s closet which spans eight feet and tries to hold the 500 pounds of clothes that hang on it. Placed in the middle this should help the cause.