atop the ladder atop the crate upon the earth he rose

[This is a cross post from my primary blog http://therealestateloungechicago]

I thought of an old friend yesterday as we zipped through Rogers Park for a mid-evening jaunt to Best Buy last night.

Jerry Riggs, the kid who could (or thought he could) concoct anything from nothing.

You may know the type. Don't go down to his basement for fear that the hodge-podge of wires with q-tips and masking tape keeping them together will have you shaking your coffee cup until you head back to your own home.

Jerry was the kind of guy who, no matter what the destination point was had in mind a way to get there. I thought of him as I snapped the picture below on Clark Street as the guy atop a 20-foot ladder made into a 23-foot ladder with the use of something he probably found in the alley triggered a flood of memories.

And so, with grit, determination, a destination in mind and maybe just a little bit of crazy, our man lit up the ladder to emblazon the finishing touches on the newest taqueria ready to ply its culinary majestics on Chicago's north side.

As with Jerry so with my own dad. Jack McCarey, God rest his soul, was the proverbial jack of all trades and master of few. Wherever you look in his last home you will see the markings of a man engaged in projects without a blue print, all the right tools but a creative mind to make due.

And make due he did. Most of the time the Rube Goldberg creations worked (or at so we hope). A shim below a post keeps the structure balanced (mostly) for years at a time. The shelving units comprised of found objects still hold stuff in place with the old coffee cans years after dad continued his spirit's journey.

And so as I spied this valiant man conquering the heights on what can best be described as a contraption I tip my hat and say a silent prayer that the angels have their wings wrapped around him as he simply takes steps toward his immediate goal, as he does his job.

In a moment's time I will join him in the fray, taking my simple steps toward my goals as I make my way to an 11.30 showing of my East Village home at 1858 Race following it with an open house that I will conduct at 1728 Huron, another East Village home that, like its counterpart, offers an attractive price for a great Chicago home in a vibrant Chicago neighborhood.