A Hand-Printed Message
Lately, it seems like the spirits of my grandparents are crowding my thoughts, whispering remnants of their stories.
I already have a treasure trove of memories, but maybe there is something new for me to learn? Perhaps there is a message for you here, too.
The Swashbuckling Hero in the Spotlight
My grandpa Jim is standing out clearly in my mind today, as if he just stepped into a spotlight.
If you’ve ever seen the original black-and-white movie versions of Zorro, The Adventures of Robin Hood, or even Sherlock Holmes, you’ve seen my grandpa’s doppelganger. Legendary actor Basil Rathbone was the quintessential swashbuckling hero, and Grandpa looked so much like him.
I’m not sure if Grandpa had any sword-fighting skills, but he did serve as a Merchant Marine in WWII. That was not an assignment for the faint of heart.
He rarely spoke of the danger he faced; in fact, he rarely spoke at all unless it was late at night and his inner storyteller finally came alive. Most of the time, Grandpa demonstrated his love rather than putting it into words. He showed people how much he cared in a million thoughtful, little gestures:
Serving hot chocolate and snacks for the grandkids after a sledding adventure.
Queuing up Disney movies in a day-long marathon.
Tending to a beautiful garden for everyone to enjoy during holidays or family reunions.
Moving about his routine (building things, fixing things, cooking meals) with a couple of beautiful dogs at his heels.
He was not interested in elitism or snobbery; my grandpa was real.
Typesetting a Legacy
He spent his career operating letterpress machines and Linotypes. Apparently, Grandpa was a writer, too. I didn’t realize this when I was growing up, and I wish I could’ve seen his poems. I imagine they were well-crafted and more deeply emotional than he’d care to admit.
His image keeps surfacing in my mind lately as Water's Edge Poetry is born. It’s as though he has something to say.
I picture Grandpa in his younger days, coming home from a foggy evening stroll with all the intrigue of a classic film noir star. He’s walking straight with shoulders back, exuding a quiet sense of pride. He steps under the glow of a moody streetlight, encircled by a thin ribbon of pipe smoke.
Grandpa sees me and motions me closer. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a small coin purse full of lead "slugs" (printing press letters), and looks at me thoughtfully and said,
“Don’t get so caught up in the work that you forget to do the work.”
He pours the letters into my hands. I notice the ink staining his skin as he lets them go. A question forms in my mind, but I can’t get any words out. Recognition flashes across his face—hinting at an ocean of unspoken thoughts within him. Though he must have carried pain from buried memories, there was also an incredible resourcefulness, and a creative intellect that few truly knew.
Grandpa was a man of few words, but he made every single one count.
Busy Work vs. Important Work
The scene recedes now, like the fading light of an old black-and-white TV. But thoughts are still billowing through my mind as I replay his words.
The struggle of “busy work” versus “important work” immediately came to mind. We all push through endless tasks each day, but are they meaningful? Do they create? Do they leave the world any better?
It’s uncanny how an idea can show up out of nowhere, even in the form of a dapper relative from a bygone era. Being reminded of Grandpa’s life got me unstuck. I made a conscious choice to steer away from small, superficial stressors and navigate back into the deeper rhythm of creating.
Important work isn’t found in ink-stained letters themselves, but in what those letters create. I look down at my open palms and a shadow of the slugs is still there—a reminder of my family history repeating itself now, as the work of publishing continues.
The Logbook Prompt
Grandpa Jim's advice is a compass for the creative soul. 🧭
⚓Are you getting so caught up in the "busy work" of life that you're forgetting to do the true, deep work your heart craves? Let's talk about it in the comments below. What is one small step you can take today to get back to your own creative rhythm?
