My dad grew up in Astoria, Oregon,

where his dad, a cabinet maker by trade, built boats

to launch on the huge Columbia River.

This love of making things with your hands was passed from father to son.

My dad’s shop – (the garage), was always a favorite place to hang out,

drawer after drawer of curious hardware – springs, magnets, gizmos,

cabinets full of tools – always a project going on.

In my mind, he’s completely inseparable from his tools.