holding the stupid end of the tape

and the joys of merely showing up

A measuring tape has two ends. The smart end and the stupid end. The smart end is the one with all the lines. It’s the one you measure with. That’s the end that the person cutting the wood needs to use.

The person holding the smart end needs to make choices. Where does the line go? The blade of the saw is 1/8th inch thick. Where does the saw blade go in relation to the line? Do you leave the line or take it when you cut? When you hold the smart end of the tape, you need to think about this stuff.

The other end? The stupid end? The end I’m holding? That’s the little hooked end that really doesn’t need a person. My work could be done by a brick or a reasonably flat stone. Though working this way would be somewhat less efficient, things would be considerably more quiet.

When not holding down the tape, I’ve been useful as a clamp, forklift and for repetitive tasks like screwing down a sub floor. Nothing has required much thought. This has been wonderful.

My cousin is building a cabin. He’s …