"Robert Green" wrote

I will have to admit, the first walls I put up at age 16 had their flaws,
but they WERE on 16" centers!

Grin, first one I did had to match an older house. 12.75 inch. It was a
replacement due to termite damage of a semi-structural wall along a
stairwell (with closet underneath). Original followed the steps and we
wanted to match to the undamaged other wall wood of the closet. The stairs
were actually falling down on that damaged side so had to use metal supports
(the sort where you twist to rise until hit it right). Major pain in the
ass with leveling everything. Mom also insisted it be cedar to match the
other side and we had to have that special ordered because they hadnt
crossbarred shorter lenghts on the original wall and we needed over 10 foot
3x6 pieces for the stretches at the top end.

We were in a small town and had to order from Charlottesville VA (about 1
hour drive away). I still chuckle about the guy driving up and asking Mom
for her husband. She saw the wood and told him, 'oh, thats for Carol.
CAARROOLL! Your wood is here!'. I'd slept in late and came trotting out in
my PJ's with a level in one hand and a muffin half eaten in the other. He
didnt stop laughing until I showed him exactly why I had rejected 2 of the
pieces. He gave Mom his card after I took him inside and showed the specs I
needed for some of the floor beams and 10x2 oak flooring replacements in the
far bedroom.

Lets not embarass anyone with my age then. Just say, young enough to come
trotting out in my PJ's (girly snicker) and old enough to grab a level.