Back in '74, my neighbor Old Man Jenkins came knockin' on my door with a cast-iron skillet that had a crack right down the middle. He said it was ruined, that he'd have to toss it in the trash. But I knew better.
I took that skillet to my forge, heated it up until it was red-hot, and I grabbed a piece of scrap steel. With a little hammerin' and some patience, I welded that crack back together. It wasn't just fixed — it was stronger than before.
Today, that same skillet still cooks the best cornbread in Van Buren. Every time I see it, I remember that sometimes the things we break can become something better if we're willin' to put in the work.
