Throughout the process of building our fireplace, it’s been important for me to feel as though I’m holding my own as a contributing member of the team. For the most part, I think I’ve been successful at that. However when it comes to using tools, I’ve had to face the reality that Larry is just much better at working with the big heavy ones than I’ll ever be and he’s much more experienced at most of the smaller ones.
In a project of this size, it would be foolish for us not to capitalize on what each of us brings to the table. So at least for now, he does the welding, runs the various saws and drills. I hold the water. And I’m the grinder.
Separating the jobs like this has saved us both a lot of frustration. He doesn’t have to be constantly patient with my attempts at being useful and I don’t have to feel like I’m slowing things down in order to feel like I have real ownership in the project.
P.S. I’m also the perfectionist, but that’s a thought for a different day.
