This weekend I finally got around to fixing the noisy front end on my wife’s van. I knew she needed a new wheel bearing hub, but I had no idea that we had actually run one brake pad down to almost nothing but metal.
Hey honey, I found the source of your foul and mysterious grinding noise!
With the weather finally in the 50s I invited the boys down to the garage to play and hang out. The four year old threw balls and rode his scooter around. Not at all interested in what I was doing to the van.
My six year old, however, he was asking questions the whole time.
What is that? Why do you have to do that? Is that dangerous? Can I help now?
He kept bringing over some of his “tools” to compare them to mine. He was very excited that he had a lug wrench like Dad’s. So when I began working on the passenger side I let him help me take the wheel off and put it back on.
He decided to wear his helmet for safety, “in case I get hit in the head with that thing!”
After removing the caliper and pads, I was removing a bracket to get the rotor off, and he asked, “Dad, can I ask you something?”
This is how he begins questions he has been thinking about for a while. I gave my usual reply, “You just did.”
After rolling his eyes, like only a six year old can do, he asked, “How do you know what stuff to take off and how to take it off? There are lots of stuff in there.”
I told him that someone once showed me how to do one side and then watched me do the other side. Then I told him it also took a lot of practice. We talked about making costly mistakes and trying again and teaching others how to fix brakes too.
He asked me if I would teach him some day, and I told him that he couldn’t drive one of my cars if he hadn’t helped me fix the brakes at least once.
Answering these questions got me thinking about all of the “teachers” I have had in my life.
You know whether it was how not to put a bike crank back together or how to properly do a brake job, to knowing how to be a husband, father or teacher myself – I have been blessed to have some wonderful teachers in my life.
It was a blessing to be reminded earlier this week of a man who touched my life in profound ways, and yet, I am not even sure he knows it.
To all who have “taught” me – my family and I thank you for spending the time and answering my questions.
What about you? Who taught you how to live, love and learn?
photos by Heatheray (a.k.a. Mrs. Dirt Clod)
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