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- Aug 30, 2008
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- 36,648
It was a typical Easter Sunday, not unlike like the last 4 yrs. or so. A lazy Sunday morning, only 2 kids left young enough to want to pretend there still is an Easter bunny. Maybe they were smart enough not to let their secret knowledge out to us parents, so they can still get the whole 9 yards
; grass basket with marshmallow peeps, chocolate eggs, maybe a toy and assorted jellybeans that fell below the grass line and could be found at the bottom of the basket. While the older kids, the ever knowing pre- teens aka tweens have already disclosed their position as non believers of the hybrid bunny/chicken legend were downgraded to possibly one chocolate bunny in a box. This was done to subdue any parental (ok mommy) guilt for purchasing nothing for these Easter Bunny Gnostics.
It was a slightly different church service today. The pastor commissioned the local high school for an Easter egg hunt out in the field for the whole community, and then a sermon on the football field right afterwards. I am stating fact that there were 20,000 plastic eggs with a piece of candy inside of each, scattered across a field that would house a professional baseball game, sectioned off for 3 age groups. They blew the whistle and a swarm of children just under 2000 were able to pick up every egg in the fields within 98 seconds .. that included the 3 to 5 yr. olds! I can only equate it to a swarm of locusts stripping wheat grains off of its stems. It was a sight to behold. I cannot get any of mine to clean their room in one day. I was humored, amazed, disturbed, and then angered at the fact I have been duped by my children thinking they were not mentally or physically able to complete that task. Perhaps, I thought, I am just too stern as a father. However today, that myth was not busted; it was squashed like a soft sided insect under your shoe!
After the service, there was a 60 mile drive across the San Fernando Valley to the lesser known San Gabriel valley where I grew up. My step daughter Carlie who is 10, did something that just made my day. You see, I have been honored to be called dad by this little girl for almost 5 yrs. now. She knows how much I love knives, but was not truly aware that this love is passed down from father to son or even father to daughter until today. I say this because Carlie has already called dibs on my Fightn Rooster End of Day stockman when I go to be with the Lord. She thinks the handles are pretty with all the colors. Carlie loves knives, and has no prejudices against them. San Gabriel valley is where my dad and mom still live, and we still meet for almost all holidays. Those years are counting down, and each year, the visit becomes more significant. I consider myself very lucky, as I am reminded by my wife to have my parents so close still. I agree fully.
My dad is now in his 70s, still my hero, and I still want to be like him even being in my mid 40s. My wonderful wife had given grandpa an Easter card, and before he opened it, he reached into his back pocket, and pulled out a yellow handled Craftsman stockman with carbon blade, showing a very even dark patina. He carefully but skillfully grabbed the clip blade with his left thumb inserted in the nail nick and his index finger pinching the back side of the blade, envelope also being held between his pinkie and ring finger as he opened that edc knife. He then eased the point towards the backside of the envelope, into that slot at the edge where there is no glue and inserted the blade. Carlies gaze was locked upon her step grandpa in full amazement. Her face lit up with a bright smile and a sparkle in her eye when she put two and two together. I was glad that I was attentive enough to catch this wink of a moment in life that quick vapor that vanishes as soon as it appears. I was looking at her and her mom, the love of my life, while my dad sliced the envelope open with ease, as a sharp knife will, with a shhhhh sound. She whispered in her moms ear, Grandpa likes knives just like dad. My wife looked at me with her beautiful large blue eyes and her natural warm smile and gave me a wink, while Carlie gave me that I figured you out look all at the same time. Some may read this and say, big deal CJ your dad opened a letter with a traditional slip joint. I know that moment, in my heart, has planted a seed in Carlies heart, to know what our hobby is all about. It is about tradition, family, friends, and simple moments in time where everything is just right. A knife nut could not ask for a better moment than that, as a father, a son, and a husband.
I hope all had as great an Easter as I did.
It was a slightly different church service today. The pastor commissioned the local high school for an Easter egg hunt out in the field for the whole community, and then a sermon on the football field right afterwards. I am stating fact that there were 20,000 plastic eggs with a piece of candy inside of each, scattered across a field that would house a professional baseball game, sectioned off for 3 age groups. They blew the whistle and a swarm of children just under 2000 were able to pick up every egg in the fields within 98 seconds .. that included the 3 to 5 yr. olds! I can only equate it to a swarm of locusts stripping wheat grains off of its stems. It was a sight to behold. I cannot get any of mine to clean their room in one day. I was humored, amazed, disturbed, and then angered at the fact I have been duped by my children thinking they were not mentally or physically able to complete that task. Perhaps, I thought, I am just too stern as a father. However today, that myth was not busted; it was squashed like a soft sided insect under your shoe!
After the service, there was a 60 mile drive across the San Fernando Valley to the lesser known San Gabriel valley where I grew up. My step daughter Carlie who is 10, did something that just made my day. You see, I have been honored to be called dad by this little girl for almost 5 yrs. now. She knows how much I love knives, but was not truly aware that this love is passed down from father to son or even father to daughter until today. I say this because Carlie has already called dibs on my Fightn Rooster End of Day stockman when I go to be with the Lord. She thinks the handles are pretty with all the colors. Carlie loves knives, and has no prejudices against them. San Gabriel valley is where my dad and mom still live, and we still meet for almost all holidays. Those years are counting down, and each year, the visit becomes more significant. I consider myself very lucky, as I am reminded by my wife to have my parents so close still. I agree fully.
My dad is now in his 70s, still my hero, and I still want to be like him even being in my mid 40s. My wonderful wife had given grandpa an Easter card, and before he opened it, he reached into his back pocket, and pulled out a yellow handled Craftsman stockman with carbon blade, showing a very even dark patina. He carefully but skillfully grabbed the clip blade with his left thumb inserted in the nail nick and his index finger pinching the back side of the blade, envelope also being held between his pinkie and ring finger as he opened that edc knife. He then eased the point towards the backside of the envelope, into that slot at the edge where there is no glue and inserted the blade. Carlies gaze was locked upon her step grandpa in full amazement. Her face lit up with a bright smile and a sparkle in her eye when she put two and two together. I was glad that I was attentive enough to catch this wink of a moment in life that quick vapor that vanishes as soon as it appears. I was looking at her and her mom, the love of my life, while my dad sliced the envelope open with ease, as a sharp knife will, with a shhhhh sound. She whispered in her moms ear, Grandpa likes knives just like dad. My wife looked at me with her beautiful large blue eyes and her natural warm smile and gave me a wink, while Carlie gave me that I figured you out look all at the same time. Some may read this and say, big deal CJ your dad opened a letter with a traditional slip joint. I know that moment, in my heart, has planted a seed in Carlies heart, to know what our hobby is all about. It is about tradition, family, friends, and simple moments in time where everything is just right. A knife nut could not ask for a better moment than that, as a father, a son, and a husband.
I hope all had as great an Easter as I did.
