244 CHAPTER 15 THE BIG TOE One of the funniest things happened when we were workingwithIHI(aJapanese representative at the time). Ed Keiper and I went over to Japan and we drove out in the country where the factory was located. Naturally, after the visit, our hosts took us to dinner. We’re drinking sake (a fermented rice wine). According to custom, you always poured the Sake forthepersonseatednexttoyou. Youneverpoured your own sake. We were in this typical Japanese restaurant that had sliding rice paper doors, low tables, cushions and all that stuff. Ed sat down and took his shoes off. He had a huge hole in his sock and his big toe stuck out like a sore thumb. left: Ed Keiper Embarrassed, he kept trying to hide it. As custom would have it, Ed kept drinking the sake being poured for him. Without realizing it, he got a bit toasted. Eventually, he had to go to the bathroom. As he stood up, he lost his balance due to the sake and fell through the wall (made of rice paper) with his naked big toe flailing about. What a sight! — Roger Fair STRIPES George Conrad (the sugar guy), came through the shop one day. He always had something for me to make for him; some little trinket you know, to help him on his work and testing. He came through here one day and he started talking to me and I said, “George, do you ever wonder why the stripes on the tie go from right to left, across your heart?” He kept talking. Finally, George glanced down at his tie, shut up, walked away and skipped making his request altogether. — Dave Meyer CARLOS RUIZ Carlos Ruíz joined the company three months before I did. He lived at the YMCA. When I came he said, “Why don’t you live with me at the Y? We’ve got a big room.” Carl and I lived at the YMCA for six months together. Carlos was married, his family was living in Cleveland; they came down at the end of that year. Carlos and I got to be very close. He was Cuban, a good man, educated in this country. Carlos’ first job was to go up to Canada to help install the white machines that George Stevens and I started at Chatham. When he had to get back into the United States, he had to jump off the train and cross the border on foot in Detroit since he was Cuban. — Robert “Bob” Jones GOTCHA BACK JACK We all had our talents, yeah. I mean, we’ve helped each other roof and do work and pour concrete and anything. I split my leg with a saw one time, working on my house and Lairs (Bobby Lairson) happened to be in the attic with me and helped me get down. I mean, I sawed it! Then I was hurt, so all the guys came by and finished my roof for me. — Gary Estes