Barb, the tool girl, Richey

I got the house.  He got the tools.

While I was at my aunt and uncle's house over the Thanksgiving holiday, the dinner conversation was random.  It included the occasional political jabs, why don't you eat turkey talk and my story about locating the best ladder for my light bulb changing duties.  My uncle asked, "why don't you have a ladder?"  At which I point I said, "I am waiting for it to go on sale at Costco."  -- right, like things go on sale at Costco.  

It then became a "he said, she said" exchange:

He said, "Well, what kind of tools do you have?

I said, "Right now, I am in the market for them."

He said, "you don't have tools?"

I said, "I have a $19.95 set with pink handles that I purchased at the grocery store."

He said, "Are you scared of tools?"

I said, "Ahhh.  No."

He said, "Do you know how to use tools?"

I said, without being disrespectful, "Really unc, yes, I know how to use them.  Mark took them when we divorced."  Hence, my statement...I got the house.  He got the tools.

To know my uncle (my mom's brother) a bit, consider this: 

Unc is a 75 year old man with a passion for collecting vintage toy trucks (he actually has a company; Semi Trucks).  He doesn't believe in the Internet so he travels across the country with a trailer and sets up shop at small flea markets, toy shows and any random casino parking lot between here and Dubuque. My aunt enjoys the penny slots so she travels with him when she's not working part time at Shopko - I think that's how they support their travels or it may be a place for her to escape for a few hours.  They've been married thirty plus years. 

My uncle was a chip buyer for the local paper mill.  He retired fifteen years ago and has since taken up puttering.   He's made clocks.  He's constructed bathrooms.  He's built fences. He's taken on photography.  And,  boy does he have tools.  My grandpa's tools.  And, a few of his own.

I spent this morning with my uncle.  He put together a tool "box" for me.  It's my grandpa's tool box from long ago.  It's my starter set.  I am quite excited to watch it grow.  I hope to have a garage like my unc's one day (pictured above). In fact, he asked me if I wanted an air compressor.  Ha.  "No, thanks, not right now, let me think about that and get back to you."