So, Where to Next?

An overcast evening walk around Multnomah village.

I sit writing this from a favorite coffee shop of mine in Cincinnati. The windows are open, oldies¹ are softly playing through the overhead speakers while I stare at a blooming cherry tree through the adjacent window.

If my blood pressure were any lower, I’d be dead.

This is my third crack at capturing my thoughts from this weekend. I got off my flight last night red-eyed and stale, but with my cup full to the brim.

I spent last weekend in Portland, Oregon, working the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event. This was my first time demonstrating in a public setting. You can imagine my nerves going into it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how I took to the experience. To put it lightly, I was heartened by it all. It woke me up to the world of teaching and ways I can grow as a (potential) teacher. And I received overwhelmingly positive words from fellow woodworkers and readers of this substack.

I guess you could say that mostly I left feeling more supported in my woodworking journey than I ever thought I was.

Russ (left) and Ruth (right) – two new friends.

That extra kick of support added fuel to a fire that’s been growing inside me. Perhaps it’s the energy radiating from the spring blooms this time of year, or the realization that my apprenticeship is soon coming to a close. Either way, I’ve suddenly felt more motivated than ever to expand my skill-set and knowledge of this craft.

In last week’s Anarchist’s Apprentice post, Chris mentioned my two upcoming chair classes this year. The first is with Jon Grant in Tennessee. There, I’ll be building the George Peddle chair at Greg Pennington’s workshop. From this chair, I hope to grow as a turner. I was fortunate to have received a scholarship from The Chairmaker’s Toolbox for this class.

The other class is with George Sawyer in Vermont. This will be a settee class, and from what I understand, this will be Sawyer’s first time teaching this build. This will allow me to finally check the “settee” box on my list of “to-build.”

I am, however, still keeping my eyes peeled for more classes later in the year. There’s so much I wish to absorb.

I was asked to sign the Guild of Oregon Woodworkers copy of “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker.” *sniffle*

In the meantime, there;’s a question I’ve been hearing from others lately that’s been weighing on me: “What do you plan on doing after your apprenticeship?” This alone has provided much of the driving force behind my recent class searches.

To be honest, I don’t have an answer yet.

When chatting with a good friend of mine recently about what my future held, I wrote her a small novel about how I might figure out the path I’d like to take. “Maybe I’ll just mass apply for classes…” I said. “Then perhaps I’ll gain some clarity?” Originally said in many words, of course.

After my runaround answer to her question, she responded with one sentence.

“Sometimes you just need to let things happen.”

A wave of relief came over me after reading her few words. It was almost as if I’d forgotten that taking everything as it comes was an option.

While this doesn’t squelch my frantic search for more learning opportunities, it does lighten the fear of having to find them.

I gulp down the last of my coffee just as the coffee shop is closing. When I drop my mug off at the counter the barista turns to me and asks, “So, where to next?”