In Memory of My Dad: His Secret Advice on Getting Out of a Jam

In the middle of repeating his mantra, “Keith don’t worry about getting A’s at Purdue, C’s are just fine. Just get some college knowledge along with the sheepskin and come back to the machine shop.” He suddenly broke off and said, “Do you know the sure-fire way to always get out of a bind when you feel trapped?”

I said, “Dad, what are you talking about?” He perked up, “You know, like you’re a boxer and you get cornered in the ring and you can’t get out.” (He always used boxing metaphors since he boxed in the army.) I said, “Yeah, like when you get in trouble and you get that burning sensation in your gut, and it feels like there’s no escape?”

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