About fifteen years ago, Dad took me down to his basement workshop to show me a corner cabinet he was building. As I bent over and ran my hand along the edge of the cypress stock, he commented, “I know I don’t do as good of work as you do; you’re a furniture builder and I’m just a cabinet maker. But I think it’s turning out pretty well.”

His comment took me by surprise as I was more used to him pointing out what was wrong with something I’d made rather than complimenting my skill. I straightened up, turned and looked at him. He continued staring down at the cabinet as I said softly, “No, Dad, you do OK. This is looking good.” “Well,” he responded, “I know you’d do a better job on it but I think they’re going to be happy with it.”

I wonder what he would think about the project Randa and I are working on now. Since Sunday evening, we’ve been busy as beavers after a dam breaks: cutting, fitting, sanding, seaming, painting, staining, varnishing, stitching, sewing, hemming, hammering and such. You can probably figure out which of the verbs have been my responsibility and which have been Randa’s. Knowing that Dad has been lingering on death’s threshold for over a week, we’ve put in long hours each day, hoping to have the casket finished by the time it was needed.

Yesterday evening, about six-thirty, we got the call that it is needed. I think Dad decided we’d had enough time and that he had, too. Today, Lord willing, we’ll put in the lining, put on the handles, finish the trim on the lid and have the coffin ready for the five hundred and forty mile trip to Murray, Kentucky.

I think it’s turning out pretty well and I hope he’s happy with it. He always liked oak furniture and in spite of the time pressure, I think Randa and I have managed to make something that’s a bit better than serviceable. I hope it’s something that Mom and my sisters and brothers will be pleased with.

Just in case Dad and I need something to talk about later, though, I’m not going to fill that little gap in the corner trim.

H. Arnett
7/30/09