Cory Hess
Basic Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 2,117
I had the most amazing thing happen to me today. Before becoming an active participant in this forum, I would have thought it impossible and called anybody that claimed it really did happen a liar. It all started on Memorial Day weekend. We were camping, and there was a big storm that blew through on Sunday. It rained all day, and the radar on my phone showed that the storm came to us in Wisconsin all the way from Texas. Well, we were holed up in the tent for most of the day and I hopped online to check out the forums and see how everybody else's holiday was going. I noticed that R8shell had posted a Buffalo Handled Eureka Jack in the exchange. It was priced to move, unfortunately we've been pretty tight the last couple of months on account of a vehicle taking a dump on us (on the bright side I got a new truck 
). I had been wanting a Eureka Jack for a couple of months and buffalo horn is currently my favorite handle material, so I just couldn't get that knife out of my mind. When we got home I messaged R8shell and proposed a trade. Alas, she responded saying that she wasn't interested in trading and I knew it wasn't meant to be. I just couldn't justify spending money on a knife knowing that we were behind the 8 ball money-wise. Three days later another Eureka Jack pops up on the exchange, this time a stag owned by Memcdowe. I thought, stag isn't a terrible consolation prize and I messaged him to ask about a trade. Same response, he isn't interested in trades at this time. Dang. So, I keep an eye on the exchange and trade forums. A couple of talons pop up, but not another two bladed jack. Then I start seeing Gary Graley posting pictures of Memcdowe's Eureka. He had gotten it in a trade. I curse my lack of bargaining prowess. I'm happy for Gary and for Memcdowe that they found a deal that they were both happy with, I really truly am, but I can't deny that I'm struggling with the tenth commandment at this point. I'm coveting. I'm coveting big time. I'm waiting for pictures to start popping up from the proud new owner of R8shell's Eureka, and I know that when they do I might just lose it. That stag Eureka is just a thing of beauty, and when somebody responds to one of Gary's posts with pictures of a buffalo one I don't know how I'm going to handle it.
Well, today I met up with my sister and we took our kids to the Children's Museum in Milwaukee and had a great day. I didn't have a Eureka in my pocket, but the kids had a good time so it kind of evened out.
I got home around 5:00 and checked the mail and there was a package in there. I recognize the small Priority Mail box that usually signifies the arrival of a new knife and my heart starts pumping. I had received a PM earlier in the week asking for my address, but I hadn't known what was going to come of that. I realize who it's from and what it might be and I'm walking up the drive trying not to get my hopes up. I got inside and pulled out one of my stupid non-Eureka knives and cut open the box. What to my wondering eyes should appear?
It's R8shell's Buffalo Horn Eureka Jack. I picked up the accompanying note and took a while to read it because my hands wouldn't stop shaking. It didn't help that the kids were jockeying for position to be able to look at the beautiful picture of Texas wildlife that was on the other side. This beautiful, beautiful woman has decided to gift me this wonderful knife. If Bill Howard himself had shown up at my door yesterday driving a big old van and told me that he had one copy of every knife that he's made in that van and I could pick one to add to my collection I would have told him a Buffalo Horn Eureka Jack. For the last couple of months this has been my Red Rider BB gun. I'm half afraid that it'll shoot my eye out.
I have exaggerated my emotional state in this post, but I'd be ashamed to admit how little exaggeration there really was.
Rachel, I am so truly moved by this gesture. I appreciate this knife and your generosity so very much. I have been the recipient of more than my fair share of knives from members here. Whenever somebody is checking out one of my knives and I tell them that somebody from the Internet sent it to me "just because" they look at me like I'm crazy. I've been warned more than once not to give out my information to people on the 'net during these conversations. People just can't fathom that there's a place like this online, and honestly I can't either. This gift was especially meaningful to me because we haven't had money for me to go out and buy knives lately. Whenever I've been smitten by something I've had to hustle a trade for one of my knives, which means I've seen a couple go that I didn't think I'd ever get rid of. I know that they're just knives, but it's a hobby that my kids get into with me and that makes it very special. My daughter was asking me yesterday when we were going to get a new knife, and when they saw me carrying that little white box they were just as excited as I was. There was much oohing and aahing when I pulled that knife out of the wax paper. There is nothing quite like watching your children's eyes light up the way they do when they're anticipating a new treasure. Regardless of what new wonder comes along, this one isn't leaving my side.
). I had been wanting a Eureka Jack for a couple of months and buffalo horn is currently my favorite handle material, so I just couldn't get that knife out of my mind. When we got home I messaged R8shell and proposed a trade. Alas, she responded saying that she wasn't interested in trading and I knew it wasn't meant to be. I just couldn't justify spending money on a knife knowing that we were behind the 8 ball money-wise. Three days later another Eureka Jack pops up on the exchange, this time a stag owned by Memcdowe. I thought, stag isn't a terrible consolation prize and I messaged him to ask about a trade. Same response, he isn't interested in trades at this time. Dang. So, I keep an eye on the exchange and trade forums. A couple of talons pop up, but not another two bladed jack. Then I start seeing Gary Graley posting pictures of Memcdowe's Eureka. He had gotten it in a trade. I curse my lack of bargaining prowess. I'm happy for Gary and for Memcdowe that they found a deal that they were both happy with, I really truly am, but I can't deny that I'm struggling with the tenth commandment at this point. I'm coveting. I'm coveting big time. I'm waiting for pictures to start popping up from the proud new owner of R8shell's Eureka, and I know that when they do I might just lose it. That stag Eureka is just a thing of beauty, and when somebody responds to one of Gary's posts with pictures of a buffalo one I don't know how I'm going to handle it.Well, today I met up with my sister and we took our kids to the Children's Museum in Milwaukee and had a great day. I didn't have a Eureka in my pocket, but the kids had a good time so it kind of evened out.
I got home around 5:00 and checked the mail and there was a package in there. I recognize the small Priority Mail box that usually signifies the arrival of a new knife and my heart starts pumping. I had received a PM earlier in the week asking for my address, but I hadn't known what was going to come of that. I realize who it's from and what it might be and I'm walking up the drive trying not to get my hopes up. I got inside and pulled out one of my stupid non-Eureka knives and cut open the box. What to my wondering eyes should appear?
It's R8shell's Buffalo Horn Eureka Jack. I picked up the accompanying note and took a while to read it because my hands wouldn't stop shaking. It didn't help that the kids were jockeying for position to be able to look at the beautiful picture of Texas wildlife that was on the other side. This beautiful, beautiful woman has decided to gift me this wonderful knife. If Bill Howard himself had shown up at my door yesterday driving a big old van and told me that he had one copy of every knife that he's made in that van and I could pick one to add to my collection I would have told him a Buffalo Horn Eureka Jack. For the last couple of months this has been my Red Rider BB gun. I'm half afraid that it'll shoot my eye out.
I have exaggerated my emotional state in this post, but I'd be ashamed to admit how little exaggeration there really was.Rachel, I am so truly moved by this gesture. I appreciate this knife and your generosity so very much. I have been the recipient of more than my fair share of knives from members here. Whenever somebody is checking out one of my knives and I tell them that somebody from the Internet sent it to me "just because" they look at me like I'm crazy. I've been warned more than once not to give out my information to people on the 'net during these conversations. People just can't fathom that there's a place like this online, and honestly I can't either. This gift was especially meaningful to me because we haven't had money for me to go out and buy knives lately. Whenever I've been smitten by something I've had to hustle a trade for one of my knives, which means I've seen a couple go that I didn't think I'd ever get rid of. I know that they're just knives, but it's a hobby that my kids get into with me and that makes it very special. My daughter was asking me yesterday when we were going to get a new knife, and when they saw me carrying that little white box they were just as excited as I was. There was much oohing and aahing when I pulled that knife out of the wax paper. There is nothing quite like watching your children's eyes light up the way they do when they're anticipating a new treasure. Regardless of what new wonder comes along, this one isn't leaving my side.
:thumbup: Let's hope that The Porch stays this way :thumbup:
