If you ain't Dutch....

I have always been fairly proud of my Dutch ancestry.  I don't really know why other than I think we have some successful traits. Even some traits that others may hold against us can be thought of in this way.
 I give you stubborn and cheap as two good examples.  I am confident my obstinance makes me a very difficult person to live with from time to time. I am equally confident, that my habit of continuing to try in the face of failure, brings me great rewards. When something is really important to me, I am simply too stubborn to admit defeat.
For me, it's a little easier to see being cheap as a positive trait, maybe because the world is so dollar centric? Regardless, I claim this as my own as well.
As I wrote this, I realized that these two traits actually combined to provide a third much more positive trait.  I think I am also quite resourceful as a result of being cheap and stubborn.
Although all of that may have seemed like just John beating his chest, it's really just the intro for this project I did last week.
One of the things I inherited from mom and dad when I bought their house was an extendable aluminum pole/handle that could be used with paint rollers or brooms etc. It extends to almost 18 feet and has been used many times around the house since I acquired it.  Last year, it broke while I was using it with a push broom for sweeping the driveway.

As you can see, the narrow threaded part broke off the end. Well most non-dutch would be sad and throw the handle away, not this guy. The minute it happened, I thought fuck...oh, but I can fix that. I carefully stored the broken piece where I could find it later. Last week, I wanted to use it again, so I went at it.
The method I used was my second idea, but it turned out great. Have a look.

I had to drill both sides to fit the expansion bolt, but I'm positive it is stronger now than when it was new. I purchased no material as I had the bolt laying around. It took me approx 20 minutes from start to finish. These handles retail over 100 bucks!  Can you tell I'm proud! Of my stubborn determination, my cheapness, and most of all, resourcefulness! Some of these things stereotypically Dutch!
Ok, time to get back to today's title. I'm sure most of you have heard ... "wooden shoes, wooden head, wouldn't listen" or, "cheaper than a dutchman" or perhaps the joke? "How was copper wire invented?" ..."it was two dutchman fighting over a penny!"
Anyhow, I really like the punchline that follows today's title.
If you ain't dutch, you ain't much!

"There's nothing more dangerous than a resourceful idiot."
Scott Adams

Love Holij

Value

I place value on almost anything. I was cleaning the garage today. Its just a dirt floor so, not clean. I heard a noise that alerted me to something under one of my feet. It was a kind of a metal sound, like coins falling on a hard surface. I looked and couldn't see anything, so I started searching by just moving one foot slightly above the ground, in the area. Eventually, I heard the sound again and pinpointed its precise location. I bent over to feel around and came up with about half of a wire coat hanger. It was still solid, but quite rusty. It has obviously been bent into a specific shape to use as a tool or fetch of some form. My first thought once I identified it was "oh, I can use that!".
For some reason, this caused me to wonder if that relates to my ability to be happy? Or, maybe not? Maybe it's just a sign of the hoarder in me?  After a brief internal struggle, I folded it up and threw into the garbage. I'm sure the other half is hanging on a screw beside my tool box, bent into some other useful tool shape!

Forgiveness isn't just the absence of anger. I think it's also the presence of self-love, when you actually begin to value yourself.
Tara Westover

Love Holij