- Joined
- Nov 15, 1998
- Messages
- 3,105
Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out, home team trails 6-3. Duane steps up to the plate. An observant player, Duane has picked up on the pitcher's nervous "fastball tell". Nothing more than a certain grimace showing the strain of the pitcher's entire body as he prepares to unleash the heat. The first two pitches show no grimace, off-speed balls down and away, the pitcher is playing chicken to get Duane to chase. Count is now 2-0 and Duane sees the grimace. Knowing the heat is coming, Duane grits his own teeth a little tighter. The ball streaks towards home at nearly 100 mph but Duane is ready. A mighty swing results in the fat part of the ash meeting the fat part of the leather, the resultant crack loud enough to make the umpire's ears ring. He knows from the sound ... this one's outta here folks ... Duane has hit a game-winning grand slam.
Analogy: I bought the knife on top of this pic over 40 years ago at a TG&Y. It's the first knife I remember carrying everyday and really using. Not only carried to school, used at school during my junior and senior years while taking auto mechanics at the Vo-tech. Worked at a truck stop after school my senior year so it got used hard. I still remember snapping the clip blade working on my motorcycle, prying with it like it was a screwdriver. SNAP. Stupid ... I had created the screwdriver I should have gone and gotten. Carried and used it anyway, money was tight and it served as a reminder to never use a knife as a screwdriver. Sure did miss having the clip blade though. It got put up when I entered the Air Force and hadn't seen it in a long, long time. When I returned to traditional knives a while back I had described it to my brother in law. He knew where there was a box of knives and he thought it was in there. Sure enough, he found it, along with some other priceless knife treasures. Had posted a pic of it a couple times. Sitflyer, aka Duane, was observant. He remembered my pic and sent me a new one, the bottom one in the pic. By itself, that's a pretty thoughtful gesture in my neck of the woods ... then it hit me ... fondling that knife brought memories of my youth flooding back, working at Hensley's Mobil right off I-40, the Vo-tech, my hotrod Camaro (no wonder I couldn't afford another knife, that 800 double pumper Holley really sucked the gas, especially when you have a lead foot). Anyhow, getting a replacement with a whole clip blade took me back to the time when it had a full clip blade. Wow, what a trip. Observant Duane has hit another grand slam. Feels good to have a clip blade again, it makes me happy. I am proud to carry my new Uncle Henry, brings back some of the best memories of my life. Thank you sir, may the spirit of good deeds be with you.
Analogy: I bought the knife on top of this pic over 40 years ago at a TG&Y. It's the first knife I remember carrying everyday and really using. Not only carried to school, used at school during my junior and senior years while taking auto mechanics at the Vo-tech. Worked at a truck stop after school my senior year so it got used hard. I still remember snapping the clip blade working on my motorcycle, prying with it like it was a screwdriver. SNAP. Stupid ... I had created the screwdriver I should have gone and gotten. Carried and used it anyway, money was tight and it served as a reminder to never use a knife as a screwdriver. Sure did miss having the clip blade though. It got put up when I entered the Air Force and hadn't seen it in a long, long time. When I returned to traditional knives a while back I had described it to my brother in law. He knew where there was a box of knives and he thought it was in there. Sure enough, he found it, along with some other priceless knife treasures. Had posted a pic of it a couple times. Sitflyer, aka Duane, was observant. He remembered my pic and sent me a new one, the bottom one in the pic. By itself, that's a pretty thoughtful gesture in my neck of the woods ... then it hit me ... fondling that knife brought memories of my youth flooding back, working at Hensley's Mobil right off I-40, the Vo-tech, my hotrod Camaro (no wonder I couldn't afford another knife, that 800 double pumper Holley really sucked the gas, especially when you have a lead foot). Anyhow, getting a replacement with a whole clip blade took me back to the time when it had a full clip blade. Wow, what a trip. Observant Duane has hit another grand slam. Feels good to have a clip blade again, it makes me happy. I am proud to carry my new Uncle Henry, brings back some of the best memories of my life. Thank you sir, may the spirit of good deeds be with you.
