Thank you Mr Ray…

(Click to enlarge)

So Mr Ray was a legend. A true adman in every sense of the term. And WHAT a personality! I cannot quite describe him in short. A library of knowledge, unending curiosity and wish to learn, and interested in EVERYTHING. I had the great fortune of learning a lot from him when I worked at his agency hundreds of years ago. He was SOMETHING. Any way, so, we always kept in touch right till he passed away, all through the hundred years. He was extremely fond of me, and me of him.

Now, whenever I tried to do something new, like make downloadable fonts with software or what have you, he would want to see what I had done, and I would email him my stuff, etc. Then he would comment or suggest something, etc. etc. etc., or simply want to learn. Because all through his life he was always trying new things out too. When I started my carpentry and started sending him emails about things I was making, etc., he showed even more interest because he loved carpentry in particular and it had been one of his many passions.

So after a long time of sharing my woodworking stuff, I remember one day he emailed me and asked me for my address. I sent it to him. And suddenly, at my door after a few days, the Black & Decker you see in the photograph, the Dremel, and some suitcases full of tools and bits and everything were delivered. Oh. My. God. I immediately texted him, asking why he had sent this, and he called and said in his slow, enunciated baritone, “These are my own carpentry tools that have served me well from when I was young. Now I no longer have the time to do these things any more. And I think I have finally found someone who I will feel happy to give these to. Keep them and use them well. They are yours.”

That’s it. I died. I write this from my own piece of heaven now.