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Who Taught or Inspired You?

Iboschi

Iboschi

Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
2,692
As the holidays close in, while reading the W&SS forum, I found myself wondering at my childhood and the inspiration and knowledge bestowed upon me by a special father figure about all things W&SS oriented. He was a quiet man who taught me by action rather than word. He expected that if I wanted to learn, I would observe and follow carefully. He never pressed anything into me except the revere of a good blade, kept sharp, and used with caution. Without his stoic influence, I would probably be afraid to get my hands dirty. So, in the spirit of the season (albeit cliché) I thank you Lee. Who are you thankful for in the spirit of W&SS and what matters most, the people who touch our lives?
 
My father was woods oriented - but more in terms of hunting, and cutting.

I have learned a ton from this board and my books lately. I have not been lucky enough to have a mentor per se'.

TF
 
My father. Hes not a knife nut or anything and I got him into the survivalism aspect of the outdoors, but hes the one that taught me how to hunt, fish, camp, etc.
 
I had nobody to teach me.

My Father was a great man, but a city dweller.

I had to figure it out on my own. I read a bit, took a few low level survival courses and in the end, found out it isn't all that complex. A few basic rules and you are good to go.

Carl-
 
My Dad ! He has always been a hunter/camper/woodsbum &he has taught me alot growing up. He has had me in the woods for as far back as I can remember.
Thanks Dad
 
I had nobody to teach me.

My Father was a great man, but a city dweller.

I had to figure it out on my own. I read a bit, took a few low level survival courses and in the end, found out it isn't all that complex. A few basic rules and you are good to go.

Carl-
Click to expand...
Now, the question is. Who (or what) Taught or INSPIRED you? Aside from my original post, I find consistent inspiration on this forum. I thank ALL of you who participate and share a part of yourselves so that others may benefit. I hope I can return the favor.
 
I spent most of my childhood on my Great Grandfathers farm. He was a hard a$$ old man born in 1899. He taught me about the great outdoors from as early an age as I can remember. He taught me how to identify the different trees in the woods, what I could eat if need be and many other skills that were useful in the woods. He taught me how to shoot, bought me my first shotgun and took me hunting often.

He also taught me about hard work and respect. If the lesson didn't set in he sent me off to cut a switch off the willow tree with the Case XX Whittler he gave me.

He was 60 years old when I was born and lived a fully functional life farming until I was 23. I miss him more than anyone and when I do something I always think to myself would this make my Gramps proud of me? I would not be the man I am today without him!

Two items he always had on him were a Case XX Pocket Knife and His Gold Pocket Watch. I am now the proud owner of that watch and it sits on my fireplace mantle.

Here is a picture of him going on a date with my Great Grandma around 1918 or so. Nice wheels huh?
 
I always wanted to be just like Robinson Crusoe. I also read every book by Jules Verne atlist a few times. The lady in the library knew me and would keep every adventure book they got for me to read first. Before they put it out for everyone else to check out. I read on averaged 4-8 books every week. The places i visited and the people i meet from reading all those books. Take the dog to the mountains hiking, Find a rock tree or a shaded place to sit and read untill i finish the book or it was too dark to read. Nothing better then be a kid again with a dog and the mountains to spend your time with. Life is good.

Sasha
 
My dad got me started, and taught me a lot, but it was the Marines that taught me as much, if not more. I don't mean the Marine Corps when I was in, I mean Marines while I was growing up. I was a Marine brat, and My dad was often off one place or another. That didn't mean that we kids went without guidance and training, though. Whenever dad was away one, or several, of his NCO's would gather we kids up and take us camping, hunting, fishing, etc., and teach us a love of nature and the outdoors. I'm sure we were a PITA, but they took us anyway, and taught us well. Any of you who grew up in a military family probably know what I'm talking about. Anyway, these people were my surrogate father figures when I was little, and the things they taught me stuck. I still love getting out there to this day. To all those guys that spent time with we howling kids... thanks for everything.
 
My Grandfather taught me to fish and butcher, a family friend taught me to trap, my father taught me to shoot @ 16 when I met him and the fear of my Mothers partners taught me shelter and tracking.
 
My Mom.

Born and raised on Mt Sterling NC

Small farm. Small house. No electric. No phone.

She understood, because she starved.

How's that for inspiration?

Carl-
 
Carl,
Thats perfect. Thank you for YOUR inspiration, and contributions. I hope things have improved somewhat. I think it's damn cool that something born of necessity transmogrified into something of pleasure and fulfillment for you.
 
I learned alot from several Military instructors, but im mostly self taught. Lots and lots of books, and practice, and of course this forum and others.... Kinda a combo of all of the above.....Stories from old timers always help too. The elders are wealth of information on living through hard times....

Grandpas died when I was really young, and my pops was not around much (military)
 
No mentor for me. My love for wilderness seems innate and my knowledge self-taught or trial-and-error.

Saved up and showed up at home with this blade at the age of 12, to faces of shock. Showed up at home at the age of 16 with 30-30 and 12g winchesters to faces of shock and awe:

SANY0006-6.jpg
 
i am the blacksheep of my family...although my grandparents told me i looked and acted just like the other previous blacksheep of the family Uncle Emerson...he lived in the adirondacks and was an artist. i never knew him but i often wonder about him. other than that this forum inspires me ive learned so much in a short amount of time. also my son inspires me to learn so i can teach him. :)
 
A smuch as I hate to say it my dad was that influence. He isn't the woodsbum or survivalist type, but the only thing we agree on is hunting and fishing, so that got me in the outdoors alot.
 
My Dad for sure with a little help from my old recon team leader Mike Drennin (rip). He was a LRRP in Vietnam and had a wealth of knowledge on survival.
 
I had 2 uncles that were heavy duty country boys. one gave me a bolt action 16 guage shotgun for my 9th birthday.
Mom was thrilled !:eek:
It got even better when I got a 32 SW long pistol for my 13th " since I was a man now";)

It's been downhill ever since.:D
Now I'm stuck in the middle of 200 acres in a damn third world country.:cool:
Mom was right. I shoulda stayed at the railroad and been a respectable man.:thumbdn:
 
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