By Mark Campbell
A Birthday Surprise
It was a warm, sunny Saturday in April – the day of my daughter Emily’s 10th birthday. We had planned a small party with family and close friends in our backyard. Little did I know, this day would become a cherished memory, intertwining my professional world with my personal life in the most unexpected way.
A week before the birthday, amidst my busy schedule, Emily had shown me a picture of a wooden carousel horse. She loved the intricate details and the whimsical design. Juggling work at the CNC workshop, I barely had time to think about it. But something about her wide-eyed wonder stayed with me.
A Late Night in the Workshop
Two days before the party, after everyone had gone to bed, I found myself in my workshop, staring at a block of wood. The image of the carousel horse flashed in my mind. On a whim, I decided to try and create a miniature version of it using the CNC machine. Hours passed as I worked, lost in the process of bringing the wooden horse to life.
As the machine carved and shaped the wood, I reflected on how my career had often kept me away from these small yet significant moments. This project, though small, felt different. It wasn’t about precision or deadlines; it was about creating something special for someone I loved.
The Birthday Morning
The morning of her birthday, I placed the finished carousel horse, now painted and polished, among her other gifts. As she unwrapped it, her reaction was priceless. Her eyes sparkled with joy and surprise, mirroring the wonder I saw when she first showed me that picture.
That wooden horse, crafted with the skills honed through years of working with CNC machines, became more than just a birthday gift. It was a reminder of the importance of balancing my professional expertise with my personal life, of taking the time to create memories and moments that matter. As a recovering perfectionist, this was great practice for me to just create and go for it, not worry about every detail being exactly as I pictured it to turn out.
A Lesson Learned
This experience taught me that the skills we acquire in our professional lives can greatly enrich our personal lives in unexpected ways. It reinforced the importance of finding time for what truly matters – family, creativity, and the joy of making others happy.
This little project was a reminder of why I fell in love with machining in the first place: the ability to create and bring joy through craftsmanship. Do you have similar stories where your professional skills played a unique role in your personal life? Feel free to share them in the comments below.