Well, not every family would encourage a boy who developed interests like mine. I'm thankful that they let me be my own person, and that my parents came to accept it as well.

[He laughs a little at that, knowing how things could have gone.]

I'm sorry you never got to know your mother, but it sounds like she left you a good example to live up to, at least.

[And he's just finishing up the last nail on the first hand.]

Ah, there! What do you think of the color?