Grandpa's Grip: A Lesson in Axes and Love with WD-40

My wood chopping rhythm was thrown off. Each swing felt tentative, the axe handle slick and threatening to betray me. It was like my grandpa's warnings were echoing in my ears: "Loose handle, loose grip, loose fingers." He'd taught me a trick for these situations, a trick passed down through generations like the axe itself. Reaching for the familiar blue and yellow can, I remembered his gruff voice, "Don't go drenchin' it, boy. Just a sip for the wood to drink." With a practiced hand, I gave the top of the handle a quick spray of WD-40. Grandpa always said to let it "settle in" overnight, so I rested the axe, the weight of his memory a comforting presence. The next day, I picked up the axe with a newfound confidence. The handle, no longer a traitor waiting to slip, felt reassuringly snug in my grasp. A single, practiced swing connected with the wood with a satisfying thud. The WD-40, following my grandpa's wisdom, hadn't just lubricated, it had tightened the bond between the handle and the axe head. It was a simple fix, a testament to the lessons passed down, that kept me safe and my grandpa's memory alive with every swing.