Building a Church 1983 #2

This is John Brawner.
He was the foreman during the day hours when we built the church.

I learned a lot from him that summer and one thing in particular that I still enjoy using today.

During the day my brother and I carried the block or brick and stacked them on scaffolding in preparation for the brick layers to come that night or next day and lay them.
Mr. Brawner told us where to stack them and how high.

When it came time to lay the bricks Mr. Brawner mixed the mortar while Brett and I carried it (slung mud) to them.
The masons would tell us "The mortar is to wet." and we would tell Mr. Brawner.
Then they would say "The mortar is to dry." and we would relay the message to Mr. Brawner.
About the third trip they would say "Tell him that the mortar is perfect." and we gladly went back to tell Mr. Brawner the good news.

Mr. Brawner said,with a blank expression on his face, "I make it the same way every time boys."
He continued "They just want to say something to show thier authority or control because its expected of them."

I have used this gem of wisdom often in my line of work.
I ran a printing press for twenty years before switching to the computer and when a customer came in for a press proof they always had something to say.
"It is to red." or "It is to dark."
They came all they way downtown to see a proof and they had to say something. It was expected of them.
So I employed Mr. Brawners wisdom many times to satisfy them.
I would go back to the press. Wait a few minutes.
Return with the SAME sheet of paper only to hear "Oh that is perfect now!".

Thanks Mr. Brawner. You saved me a ton of grief over the years.

Mr. Brawner resting.

Bob Sanders on the left with someone I don't know saying "Is this mortar to wet or to dry? I just don't know?". He should have talked to Mr. Brawner.