So, I’ve been thinking…..Almost a year ago, I “bought” a digital steaming version of David John Moore Cornwell’s book adaptation; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. You may know John by his nom de plume or “pen name,” John le Carré. Anyway, I still haven’t watched it….but I will. I am reminded of this each time I have to do something else I never seem to get around to; finding a decent and reliable tailor.

Clothes shopping is a huge nightmare for me….nothing ever fits! I’m too short and my shoulders are too wide. 99% of the clothes I buy never fit and I usually wear them anyway unless I have some dress clothes, where the “casual look” just won’t fly.

Today, I found a tailor. Raphael. He seemed quite nice and didn’t freak out when I told him I needed a “rush job.” Procrastination goes hand in hand with clothes shopping and tailoring. Anyway, I asked him if he was busy………”Oh yes,” he said. “Far too busy and far too old to be working so hard and often.” He didn’t say it bitterly, and he smiled when I said that I was sure there didn’t seem like any younger people who wanted to join the trade. “Ah yes,” he said. “All the young people only want to play on the computer!”

Being a trades and craftsman myself, I understand his words. I am fortunate to live in Rhode Island. Not every place is a corporate mega store or chain restaurant. There are places and people I like to call the “Old-World Trades and Skills.” Not so oddly, the places I frequent do seem to also have “old world employees.” Most were not born in this country and have built their skills somewhere else. The older craftspeople’s frustration is not that they’re busy, it often seems they’re more disappointed that they have no one to pass their craft on down to, or to sell their booming business to fund their retirement.

Recently, I have crossed paths with some new artisans who were younger; a Brass and Candlestick Maker, a Butcher, A Stain Glass Maker, and a Baker. It was nice to see. I am always fascinated when I come across some other skills and trades not often practiced. There is the Providence Watch Hospital. Yes, there are some family members who change batteries and provide customer service, but the real “show” is behind the glass near the back; three men originally from Romania who are Watchmakers; to me, a craft so brilliant, it borders on Mythical Folklore and Witchcraft.

I haven’t seen a cobbler recently; a person who repairs shoes, but I have used one’s services in the past.

I recently saw a comedy skit from the TV Show “Brooklyn 99” where Jake teased Amy about the difference between a Hooper and a Cooper and “turns her on.” Strangely enough, I have also recently seen some YouTube Videos about the woodcrafters who make Oak Barrels to produce whiskey and wine, and the people who craft the metal to go around the barrels; Hoopers and Coopers. They are quite skilled.

I recently attempted to do some “canning.” I remember finding out no actual metal cans were involved; strange. I thought I could just wing the process and not follow the instructions, until I found out that for some reason, the pickles I made from cucumbers turned to mush in one day flat. Seems that homemade canning is just one more old-world skill that seems to have faded with time.

There are some new laws in the European Union that outlaw planned obsolescence and products that can’t be replaced or repaired. Everything from Cells Phones to inaccessible software. The idea is to stop or reduce waste and save people money, and the things they buy, so they last longer and have more valve over time instead of almost immediately being disposed of.

Maybe it’s time to see the return of some old world skills.

I think I’ll “don” my new tailored shirt, head down to my woodshop and sharpen some pencils the “old way” on my vintage Boston Pencil Sharpener!

P.S. I didn’t mention the “Fishmonger” or the “Knife Grinder,” but if you remember some “old-world skills,” leave them in the comments! Thanks!!!

Zulu Delta