The first winter after my Dad died in 1960 was tough and money was tight. I was a freshman in high school and in October my brother put a dollar bill and a quarter into an envelope and mailed it to California (to Dean Jeffries, I think) after seeing an ad in one of the "little books". I was very surprised on Christmas morning when I received a swordstripe brush - that gift changed my life! I striped throughout high school and after graduation I decided I needed to learn how to letter. I became an apprentice in a union sign shop and after earning my journeyman's card I opened a sign shop in 1973. I have been thankful every day that I am able to work at a trade I truly love and after 46 years I'm still learning!