Flocking Destiny

The secondary and back roads in Pennsylvania are narrow. I'm told that's because the state will provide money for local communities to build the roads but the money for the shoulders and curbing has to come from the town. Still when I saw this picture I had to pull over and stop, though it was a little nerve racking to watch traffic speed by.

This was the last plastic pink flamingo left. The new home owner told me earlier the whole front yard was covered them. It was a gift (or practical joke) from one friend to another, something to celebrate his buddy's purchase of his first home.

Last Tuesday night the Pottstown Artist Guild had a field trip to the work shop and studio of Bob Ingram. His home and shop are in Nantmeal Village, a small clump of mostly of 200 year old fieldstone farmhouses that does show up on all the maps. The joke was didn't M Night Shyamalan film the movie The Village here? Actually the movie set location was less than 20 miles away.

We had tour of the house, work shop and studio. The house is a century old frame building that was long neglected before it was artfully restored. The barn that became the workshop and studio was equally derelict. Mr. Ingram had an earlier career in industrial design and fine furniture making. Him and his wife were ready to take on this challenge.

Just a small home for the road or a chance at simple uncluttered living

I like to work with my hands and have been a carpenter, made some crude furniture and did several wood carving over the years. It's difficult to describe the wave of envy I felt. I couldn't stop imaging what I can do with a shop like this.

These days Bob Ingram still makes some furniture but has branched off into lighting and found object art.

After the tour we had time to talk. Mr. Ingram had owned his own design company.  It had a dozen or so employees, it was profitable and growing. But at some point the business felt like a trap. The skill sets of an artist and business owner have a lot in common but they also seem to have equally as much that's mutually exclusive of each other.

He sold the business, invested his money and was able to retire early so he can solely focus on his art work.  His life story didn't sound like bragging or a sacrifice. He attributed his success just as much to luck as to hard work, which was refreshing to hear. I think it was Mark Twain who said the myth of the self made man is like the myth of the self laid egg.

There was a further discussion on how our time on earth is short and that a person needs to follow the path in life they are drawn to. How it's difficult to create art unless your life is really part of that art. The idea that you create to live a full life and not just to earn a paycheck.

Don't get me wrong, I have a great deal of respect for people who work hard, often in difficult jobs.  But if your only motivation is the money and not family, pride of workmanship or some other higher purpose; then money alone is empty reward.

Compared to his past Bob Ingram lives a more financially modest life but it could be argued he's very rich because he has the luxury to be in control of his destiny -at least as much as anyone can be.