Leaks and Ladders

My father wants to climb ladders. But he knows he shouldn't. And so he doesn't. He has me climb them, instead.

I mean that literally. Today he needed me to patch a leak on the roof of Graphic Resources. First, he watched me pour the sealant from a big bucket into a smaller, more manageable one. Then he handed me a brush that he'd resourcefully retrieved from the corner of the warehouse. After I extended the ladder to reach the roof, he stood patiently, with eager eyes, watching my every step upward.

He then backed up and watched my every step across the top of our building, asking questions about what I've found and what needs repair. With concerned eyes, he waited until every last drop from my bucket had been applied to the problem spots on the roof. And he supported the ladder on my way down.

My father wants to climb ladders, even though those closest to him think he shouldn't. I admire him for that.

You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb. ~Andrew Carnegie