I can't even write this without developing a few tears.
I have mentioned my daughter Kimberly and her condition as the result of a hit-and-run. She is also a long-time knife nut. She was still in a nursing home last year at Blade time, but this year my wife Kathy and I took her to Blade. She loved the knives and most of all, the people. She particularly wanted to meet Bill, insisted on taking her "Semper Fi" cap that he sent her, and he got several hugs out of the deal. I saw some big old grown men wipe their eyes as she interacted with them at the various tables. (Mike, I won't mention who some of these men were.
) But as far as she was concerned, the best was Friday night. That was when Jerry and Jennifer took a group to dinner and Jerry inducted a couple of old farts as Hogs. Then he dubbed her Kimberly Hamhock, the second ever Hoggette, presented her with her Tee Shirt, and also an E-handled Steel Heart with the following inscription on the blade: BUSSE COMBAT "GUTS" AWARD Presented To Our Hero, Kimberly. That little girl had a fantastic evening that she will remember for a long time to come. She has never exactly shied away from being the center of attention anyway, and was in her element.
You all should have seen her back at the hotel afterward, working on her version of the cloven hoof salute.
Thank you everyone, especially Jennifer and Jerry. As I overheard one gentleman at another table at dinner comment even before all of this took place, "This shows that Busse isn't just about the knives." As Kim would say, "Dang Right"!
I have mentioned my daughter Kimberly and her condition as the result of a hit-and-run. She is also a long-time knife nut. She was still in a nursing home last year at Blade time, but this year my wife Kathy and I took her to Blade. She loved the knives and most of all, the people. She particularly wanted to meet Bill, insisted on taking her "Semper Fi" cap that he sent her, and he got several hugs out of the deal. I saw some big old grown men wipe their eyes as she interacted with them at the various tables. (Mike, I won't mention who some of these men were.
) But as far as she was concerned, the best was Friday night. That was when Jerry and Jennifer took a group to dinner and Jerry inducted a couple of old farts as Hogs. Then he dubbed her Kimberly Hamhock, the second ever Hoggette, presented her with her Tee Shirt, and also an E-handled Steel Heart with the following inscription on the blade: BUSSE COMBAT "GUTS" AWARD Presented To Our Hero, Kimberly. That little girl had a fantastic evening that she will remember for a long time to come. She has never exactly shied away from being the center of attention anyway, and was in her element.You all should have seen her back at the hotel afterward, working on her version of the cloven hoof salute.
Thank you everyone, especially Jennifer and Jerry. As I overheard one gentleman at another table at dinner comment even before all of this took place, "This shows that Busse isn't just about the knives." As Kim would say, "Dang Right"!
