The machine cost over $50,000. Only his
trained trusted employee could use it. With three stumps that needed
to be removed, on our property, from formerly majestic trees, felled
from an earlier ice storm, this employee went about the task of
destroying the root system of these pine trees. It was an amazing
feat of skill.
Was I watching trickery going on before
me? Were these professionals going to add some chemicals into the
those randomly drilled holes which would finally find their way down
into the root system for their destruction? Would the stump then be
set on fire? I did not want chemicals here, especially since we had a
well. What about the smoke? My husband had hired this well respected
company to do the deed. No chemicals were used. The machine had done
its job: churning the wooden root system to a pulp, becoming part of
the landscape, over time. All was well in my world.
This cute brand new red machine, a mini
excavator with a drill bit attachment, did a job no man could do.
Working smarter not harder is today's mantra. Slowly shredding the
tree stump into tiny pieces seemed so easy. The stumps had been left
there for the past 2 years after the trees fell. Only bits and pieces
of wooden stump would remain. Everything looked great as they left
after 4 hours of work. The bill was paid. Such good value for what I
had seen. In any job, what is left is usually what we see not what
was there. Unimaginable talent!
The marketplace demands value from the
inventory being sold. Even the young child, after a long day at
nursery school, is different, but healthy and safe. Hours of 'labour'
went into his care throughout the day, though no proof 'it' ever
happened. We just know. 'Labour' is
never seen, only understood. The elaborate meal with its abundance of
desserts and cake can only be imagined in their entirety. Many times,
I have said to my husband,”I wouldn't make that at twice the
price”. I have gardened, pulled weeds for its preparation, over
many hours, laboured over many days then planted the seeds of
tomorrow only to see my labour go to waste because of poor sunlight,
soil, maintenance and watering, too. But I keep on trying.
Any holiday or
celebration has at its core - food. Always expected and then
devoured, in no time, yet laboured over for many hours and days,
beforehand. The 'chef' is thanked then dessert, having been made then
frozen for this occasion, is offered. In the marketplace, this food
skill can be a six figure career. Yet this same time and effort can
be applied to the construction of furniture or even outdoor
landscaping whose glory can last a lifetime. Cooking can be so
unappreciated; its time driven preparations, so misunderstood and
overwhelming.
In the reality show, Say Yes, To the
Dress clients are shown gowns,
conforming to their bridal vision for that special day. What is
usually presented are beautifully artistically designed costumes, a
testament to the skillful execution of the dressmaker/designer who
created these exquisite masterpieces. The bride is queen for the day;
her dress, a one of kind, a priceless stamp to the skillful labour
that occurred months, maybe years, before! Beautifully embellished
with beads, pearls, crystals or lace, in many styles, with numerous
fabric choices, the wedding dress is paraded for all to see. The
imagination woefully competes with the showroom of wedding elegance.
As
they hear the price, the brides of 'Yes'
do not flinch. They
understand the total cost. Cutting the fabric, sewing the parts, in a
meticulous laid out plan, while accommodating the unique
characteristics and properties of the fabric chosen, is paramount and
a testament to the artistry(labour) of the dressmaker extraordinaire.
Chiffon is sewn differently than silk. Brocade or lace, still again.
The labour used in creating these elaborate gowns is never seen,
only imagined.
Labor is the
invisible 'majority' partner to the materials used in anything, it's cost
greater than imagined. Let us revere those whose experience and
multi-faceted talents make it possible for us to afford what we want
when we want it. Our lives are richer because of them.
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