.......we just need to appreciate them.
Many people think that on Cape Cod we're a bunch of rich people. Not so, by a longshot. Year-round residents are primarily employed in the Service Industries. We are carpenters, painters, waitresses, etc. And, yes, the "occasional" Realtor. Basically, the working-class. I've seen some true artistry by so many of these people. I can walk into a home that has been recently updated and know exactly who did the work, just by their craftsmanship. Carpenters, for example, have finishing touches that are similar to a signature. Builders? I know them. What some do, and what some don't do.
During the past week, even I have had a wake-up call on this subject. There are artists whose works are visible and those whose aren't. Many of these artists' works will be buried!
Case in point. Here on the Cape we have this thing called Title V which regulates septic systems. We always have to deal with this for every sale. If a system doesn't pass Title V inspection, you, as the Seller, have to bring it up to code or replace it entirely. When one of my listings "fails" I call "My Guy" and two others. Inevitably, "My Guy's" price is always better and on target. He's efficient, quick, and always passes. He happens to be pretty good lookin' too. But I digress. Usually, I call, get the quotes, deposits and signatures and just say "Tell me when it's done and passed". I never realized what an "art" it is until this week, when I had to have a new one installed myself. The existing system was 40 years old and not up to capacity.
Let me tell you....I've never seen one installed but I watched very closely. My home is near Conservation Land so "special circumstances" were involved. I now had to have a mounded system, two tanks, a leeching field almost the size of my house, seven trees removed (sending them to Gloria for replanting) and a complete topography adjustment (the water table is less than 6 feet below grade). The supervisor of the project could operate a "CAT" like it was an extension of his brain. He only needed to think it and the CAT would do it. I swear I could have put a pen in the bucket and he would have been able to sign his name (Chad, by the way) on a post-it. He and his team removed trees with precision, one of which was less than 6 feet from my house. He placed it so perfectly, I couldn't believe it. Didn't take out one other branch from the other trees! He has uprooted my hydrangeas, hostas, and other landscaping and waters them before he leaves every day, just to save them. Board of Health decided two days ago that we needed to be "higher". No problem, said Chad. Took a few days longer to get the sand to raise it further, but we passed Title V this afternoon and Chad and his Guys are spending all day tomorrow grading my "new" yard so it looks natural and replanting everything where I want them. And, Oh Yeah, same price as originally quoted, despite the changes. I actually feel bad that Chad's artistry will not be visible. He doesn't mind, though, as long as I refer more business.
Artists exist everywhere.