Many Hands Make Light the Work

Over the past weekend my mom and dad had many of our extended family over to their house in upstate New York for a good old-fashioned garage raising. After tearing down the older and smaller garage, a roof had to be placed over the new garage walls. My family is at no loss for strapping young men with both brain and brawn, so the invitation was extended and the masses flocked.

While I like to think that all of us ladies were able-bodied, plenty of male garage workers were present so we provided a constant flow of food and snacks to keep the men going strong. Besides circular saws and nail guns, it truly was out of the 19th century, and I thoroughly enjoyed every old-school minute of it. I didn't really get any good pictures of us girls, since we were slaving away in the kitchen...and watching movies...and taking naps.

For me, there's something wonderful about men at work that makes me appreciate the strength it takes to build something that will last and the knowledge it takes to care for one's home. I'm confident in the varied skills and talents of mine and my female kin, but garage/roof building is not the contribution we make. In our different ways, all of us are building structures of support and shelter for each other, some material but many intangible. Whether it be through hard work, knowledge, love, or strife we continue to deepen and grow our bonds as family.