Work Hard, Head Home Happy: A Summer Memory

Every year around the 4th of July, folks ask me if I have a favorite Independence Day memory. The truth is, nothing too specific jumps out. No big parades or fireworks shows that live rent-free in my mind. But what I do remember are the summers I spent working for my dad, Ralph.

I was just a kid then, still figuring things out, but come summer break, I traded sleeping in for loading up the work truck. Dad would toss me a thermos and a tool belt, and off we’d go. We might be heading an hour or so out to install or finish a floor in a farmhouse, a cabin, or someone’s dream home. It was hot, sticky, and let me tell you, not exactly glamorous. But it was real work. Honest work. And it stuck with me.

I always tried to wrap up in time to hustle back home. There might be a softball game with buddies, a round of golf, or just some time hanging around friends. But even with all that pulling at me, I never left a job unfinished. I made sure the customer was happy before I even thought about heading out. Not because someone told me to, but because that was just the way we did things in our family. And 60 years later, that hasn’t changed.

We still believe in showing up, doing the work right, and treating every customer like they’re our neighbor because many of them are. Whether we’re helping someone pick out the perfect floor for their new build or refinishing the floors they grew up with, we treat every home like it’s our own.

This year, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ralph’s Hardwood Floors, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting. I think about those early summers, learning the ropes one job at a time, trying not to mess up the stain and hoping Dad didn’t notice when I did. (Spoiler: he always noticed.)

I think about how much has changed since 1965 with all the new styles, new technology, new products, but also how much hasn’t. Our values, our pride in craftsmanship, and our commitment to getting it right the first time? Those are as strong as ever.

So no, I don’t have a grand 4th of July story to share. But I do have a whole pile of memories that remind me what this business is built on: family, hard work, and making time for a little softball when you can squeeze it in.

Happy 4th, and thanks for being part of our story.