My
Grandfather was a brilliant person full of character and positivity. He was
always doing things, helping others, creating, fixing this and that. Didn’t
really matter what as long as it represented value.
Once –after he was retired- he thought he would repair bikes over the summer
that he had spent with my grandmother by the lake. He set up the business at
the rear garden in a tiny shed. That’s when I came into the picture. I was 10
years old and enthusiastic enough to offer him my help on making a sign. I took
a large board (it seemed large enough to me), cans of glossy red and white
paint and threw myself into the job. By the time I got to the last few letters
the board was already filled completely. It didn’t really put me off despite the
lack of the ‘apple Z’. I started the whole process all over again on another
board with even more enthusiasm. I put all the effort on earth to it. When it
was done, I fixed it against the fence of the first property on the road so
everyone could see it. I assume that whatever I would’ve done my Grandfather
would have used it since he saw honesty in it. Mainly that’s what had driven
his business. Genuineness.
There were other businesses with fancy signs that used up to date technology
but people seemed to be going to my Grandfather. I think they loved the fact
that they could see the individual behind the business. He was a big
storyteller and so enthusiastic about everything he did, often people stayed
longer just to watch how he was working and listened his stories. People called
him Master.
They were like ‘Is the Master home?’ or ‘I’m looking for the Master’. The key to his success was not
only that he provided a great service but he also took care of his customers.
Last week I went home and unfixed the sign. It had been there for 20 years.
