July 14 came and went and did you celebrate National Tape Measure Day? Probably not. It’s one of those non-federal holidays that go unnoticed except by carpenters who know and follow the adage, “measure twice, cut once.” Tradesmen the world over have used tape measures to get the job done right the first time. Dad had lots of tape measures, but my favorite is a 36” wooden straight edge. It’s old and it’s a keeper. Perhaps it was a promotional piece. The name on it says it came from Shunk’s Furniture store in the Soo. The store still exists but is no longer owned by the Shunk family.
Thinking about tape measures brought something to mind that had nothing to do with measurements. The tape I was thinking of was something we’re all familiar with. Unlike the tool used by carpenters, this tape is part of every woman’s household arsenal. I’m not sure if it has a special day, but if ever there was one that deserved a royal celebration, it’s the sticky stuff. Whether it’s plain old Scotch tape found in the home of every American or Gorilla Tape found in your dad’s garage, tape is indispensable. My mother loved it to the point of mania.
While visiting my parents one summer in the 1970s, I brought her a new dispenser. It was the type on the desk of every secretary in every office where I worked. Mom had never seen such a marvelous piece of equipment. Instead of battling with a traditional small plastic holder, she had become the proud owner of a professional tape dispenser. Dad and I stepped aside as she went to work.
Every interesting newspaper article and every photograph that wasn’t in an album was taped to a wall. Recipes found in magazines were cut out and taped inside the kitchen cupboard doors. With a flourish akin to that of a great artist, Mom had found her calling. From the bedrooms to the bathroom, no wall was safe.
Forty years later I was still finding tape remains everywhere in her Marlette mobile home. The stuff was as indestructible as iron. If you’ve ever tried to remove a piece of Scotch tape from the wall of a 1968 house trailer, you know what I mean. You’re stuck with it for life. I scrubbed, chipped, cried and yelled a few choice words, but I lost the battle. Mom’s mark on our family history was immovable.
Like tape measures, tape has changed a lot since I was young. Enter any hardware, Walmart or Dollar General store and you’ll find a selection to choose from. Plain old duct tape came in colors unheard of until the 1980s when Duct Tape became popular. The silvery gray rolls were often overlooked in favor of yellow tape with little ducks on it or plaid designs or camouflage. The history of tape measures or Scotch tape wasn’t taught in the schools I attended. At least, I have no recollection of learning their genesis, but if we’re going to honor tape measures, it’s only right we honor tape.
I did it again. I started talking about one thing and that led to something else and I fell off my original track, but that’s okay. We all do it, right? We veer from topic to topic. It’s not that tape measures are boring. They’re not. They come in various shapes, sizes and colors. I couldn’t have made all my garments without the aid of a cloth measuring tape. I no longer sew, but I keep a small metal measuring tape in a kitchen drawer just in case.
I’ll close with a quote from The National Day Calendar: “Purchase a tape measure and measure to your heart’s content. Keep one in your glove compartment, purse, junk drawer, backpack and buy extras as gifts.”
I’ll add that a good tape measure eliminates guess work and the resulting arguments.
To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email at sharonkennedy1947@gmail.com. Kennedy’s book, “The SideRoad Kids as Adults,” is available from her or Amazon.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: In late celebration of measuring tape | Opinion
Reporting by Sharon Kennedy, Community Columnist / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sharon Kennedy, Community Columnist | USA TODAY Network
