One day this summer while belaying my rock climbing partner Alex, my left foot brushed up against a little piece of bark. Suddenly I was back at elementary school recess, sitting on the sidewalk rubbing bark against the pavement. What a rewarding feeling, creating smooth edges by the simple act of leaning on cement. What!?! I Hate sanding. Sculpting isn’t all giddy inspiration and staring off into space, it’s perpetual, monotonous, mind-numbing, mad droning sanding, SANDING! It seemed funny to me that the dullest part of my creative process is what survived The Early Years. Hypnotized by reverie I nearly missed the gravity of the moment. If Alex slipped and I failed a timely arrest, 180 very surprised pounds would free-fall right at me with predictable, irreversible urgency…

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