An editor once described my writing as diarrhea(tic).. "I never know exactly what will come out or when it will end.".
Dedicated To A Friend I Never Met..
I like to keep stuff around (okay, my wife would call it hoarding). But, I like it when I look at something and it “takes me somewhere” (at my age, usually “back”). I especially like to keep stuff around that belonged to someone else, most especially old friends that are no longer here.
I have a few heirlooms from both my great grandfathers, several from my grandfathers. I have a wooden decoy from John Zippe. A book, “Shotgunning, The Art And Science” was given to me by Elwood Rechkemmer - sits on the shelf by my desk and I look at it often. I have a couple fishing reels that belonged to Joe Carter, a fishing rod that was Bill Beeding’s, a knife that was Spider Malcom’s. I have #14 cast iron skillet given to me by Carl Wykert.. Carl’s gone - the skillet will outlive us all. All are treasured possessions, and only, just because, I like that they are “here”..
A number of years ago, I joined an internet site – at that time dedicated to mostly, hunting.. fishing on the side. Like most early sites – it had “forums” - a number of them. As with most, everyone gravitated to one – this one called “Campfire Chat”.. pretty much like a real campfire, where everyone one talked about everything and damn what the “original” subject was.. Here I “met” Bill Conine. Bill was a gentle soul – always enjoyed his comments, his insight and especially his sense of humor.
While I tend to shy away from personal stuff on the internet – when you get to “know” people there, things come out. Bill lost his dad during this period and as they did the obligatory scattering of possessions, Bill found a pair of Irish Setter “Kangaroo” hunting boots - likely never worn. He put out the word, to all at the campfire; they were available to anyone who could use them. It turned out I was the only one with “normal” size feet (8 EE) so he sent them to me.. wouldn’t even let me pay the postage. I had them a lot of years. I wore them out. Unfortunately, during this period, Bill wore out, too.. and we lost him
My darling (first) wife puts up with a lot, but I was having trouble justifying three or four pair of worn out boots, so I decided to have a ceremonial burning (whiskey was involved). Just as I was ready to throw Bill’s (dad’s) boots on the fire, I thought, “I’m going to grab those shoestrings – maybe I can do something with them.” (okay – maybe a “tiny bit” hoarder)
To make a long story short (I know – we’re way past that- but I get paid (or I used to) by the word) I decided maybe they’d make a grip on a walking stick..
The stick - it started out as just a “stick”. Anyone who works with wood, in any way, will be able to relate. It was a piece of hard maple.. stripped, sanded and finished.. it just really never developed a “life”. It got stuck to the back of the pile as an “also ran”. Then, when I went looking for “Bill’s Stick”, for some reason, it caught my eye.. it needed something – an arrow head? .. done – no - not really.. let’s go all out and grind in a mushroom.. still looked like a “stick” and so (you’re running out of chances “stick”) - I got out the torch.. Finally, it began to take on a little character.. maybe a “re-finish” – a little shine. Bill's shoestrings became a grip. Maybe a little “color”.. a lanyard (a four strand, braided by my granddaughter, Shay) (I can do it.. that piece would have taken me two days – she did it in 20 minutes) added a little color.. So, still not sure it’s "done".. but it is, officially, now.. “The C09 – Bill’s stick”.
Took her out for a shake-down cruise.. Maiden voyage.. She’s a natural..
Happy Hunting, Bill.
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