The Big Wrench with a penny and Scrabble letters for scale.

I have this giant wrench on my fireplace mantle. My dad used to use this wrench. He used to own and repair a lot of heavy equipment with nuts and bolts requiring a wrench of this size. Watching my dad actually use this wrench was an incredible thing to witness. He had these big, strong hands, creased and scarred from an assortment of years fixing cars, winning fights, building things, and surviving the Vietnam War. Hands that didn't wear gloves because gloves just got in the way of what he was trying to do. His hands told stories without him ever saying a word.

This wrench reminds me of my dad's strength, not just from the literal amount of strength it takes to wield a wrench of this size, which he absolutely had, but what it represents symbolically about who my dad was. My dad was hard working, strong in his beliefs, in love and in character. I would add humble but there’s something about the scale of this wrench that opposes that notion in the same way my dad did. It doesn’t catch your attention by being brightly colored, seasonal, or particularly festive. There’s a presence and utility about this wrench that demands respect, a kind smile, and a noble nod.

It's a beautiful wrench.