[MD] time-saving

[Dan Glover]

Hello everyone

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:01 AM, Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Marsha,
>
> Many thanks for sharing Phillips' story though I was actually thinking good for the "ugly American"!  If her advice making use of the available technology and resources had been followed, they could have got the work done in less than half the time, hit a shady tree while the sun was still up and cracked open some cold drinks.  And the folk stories could have been just as good if everyone had been still involved.  Just a pity the American's good idea was ignored for the sake of social tradition.  In fact, this running away from technology, sounded like Nayan Bala was a "closet" John Sutherland while what they really needed was a Phaedrus to inspire and organise them properly!  :-)

Dan:
I'm sorry, Ant, but I humbly disagree with you. Let me see if I can
explain why via a short story:

When my children were small they loved to be a part of creating
something, anything really. One time we built a tree house... well, I
should say they built it. I was there to supervise but I allowed them
to do all the work. They were very slow and meticulous, measuring each
board to be cut and then taking forever to cut it. I had a power saw
available but power saws cut off fingers very quickly whereas a hand
saw if it slips might cause a scratch or abrasion but nothing serious.

But more than that, I enjoyed seeing the look of attention on their
faces as the work proceeded; I relished seeing the way they worked
together as a team... the oldest one doing the measuring, the middle
ones doing the cutting, and the youngest toting the materials from the
sawhorse to the tree. They worked until they grew tired and then quit
to start again the next day. As they walked away I could hear them
planning amongst themselves what to do next.

Once they had assembled enough wood to built the foundation they began
securing the boards to the tree, again very slowly and meticulously. I
could have jumped in with my power tools and done the work in half the
time... hell, a quarter of the time. I was sorely tempted more than
once to do just that. But I kept myself apart from them only offering
instruction when they asked for it and making sure no one attempted
anything dangerous.

This all happened many years ago but if memory serves it took many
weeks to complete the work. Each afternoon when I arrived home from
work the kids would all be waiting for me, eager to get started on the
next phase. I'll admit there were some days when I just didn't feel
like sitting there watching. I wanted to jump in, to brush them aside,
and say no, this how you do it, and proceed do the work myself with my
big bad power tools in order to get it done more efficiently and
quickly.

Despite myself I stayed my desires. I literally forced myself to allow
them to complete that project on their own. And complete it they did.
Though there wasn't a square corner to be found in that tree house by
god it was a thing of beauty. They spent many happy years playing in
it and now when the grand kids come to visit they play in it. Their
parents tell them proudly how they built it all by themselves. I can
still see the light of accomplishment shining in their eyes when they
tell the story.

Can you understand the story Marsha shared a little better now?

>
> Never mind.  There's always warm beer, green playing fields and the call of the willow bat.  For people who aren't inspired by the game of gentlemen (sadly, in this modern age, I do believe they're out there; even on this Discussion group), there is the rather charming (but still edifying) essay by John McConnell.  Despite being beaten on the head with a Zen stick by myself, Paul Turner, and, even on occasion, Robert Pirsig, John has managed to reach Part 3 of his Inspirational epic.  It can be found via the following page:
>
> http://robertpirsig.org/McConnell%20Part%203.htm
>
> This part of John's essay also has the bonus of a discussion ("Round Table with Paul Turner") between John and Paul T which  clarifies some points.

Dan:
Very well done! Thank you for sharing!

Dan

http://www.danglover.com