Oh the knives that have been lost through the years...

Since the post about "The kind of men who carry a pocket knife", I have had a good bit of discussion about the pocket knife in the picture.  This knife was made by "The Ideal Knife Company". 

Now this was not some fancy big name brand knife.  It was the type that was sold in gas stations on cardboard displays.  Not exactly the kind of knife that they kept in the glass display case. 

The Ideal Knife Company made the Ideal camper and a JR model that were very popular in the 1970's.  The knife that I have is a similar model to the Jr camper.  While I would like to lay claim to being one of those guys who has carried the same ole trusty knife for most of my life, the truth is that my little Ideal knife was probably put away in a drawer for most of the near 40 years that I have owned it.  It has become special to me because it was the first knife that I ever owned and it was then, that I felt my father put his trust in me.  Trust enough that I could have my very own knife!  This would become the most special part about this cheap gas station knife, that I now keep stored away with other prized possessions in my Liberty safe

. 

 The wear on the blade mostly came from learning the proper way to sharpen a knife as I put many hours on a whet stone fine tuning the craft.  This little Ideal knife became my test subject in learning the intricacies of proper angles and stone selection.

 It wasn't long in the pocket before I put this little gas station knife away and moved on to the likes of a my prized case canoe.  I truly thought the world of my case canoe, but somehow I let it part ways with me.   The canoe was one of my favorites that I let slip away.  Many years later my wife had heard me talk about my knife so much that she decided to replace it for me.  She went to a vintage collectors store and found a beautiful 1975 Case Canoe just like the one pictured below......  I may get in trouble for this one...... yep I lost it also.  Does that make me a "loser"????  J/K 

This seems to be the fate of oh so many knives.  As a young boy, my focus was often on catching one more fish than taking care of responsibilities, so I probably left it laying on the ground beside my tackle box on the banks of the creek.  I miss that knife.  That leads me to make this post about all the knives that have parted ways with their owners and the places where that sort of atrocity would take place.  

There are no telling how many boys (of all ages) in a rush to get back to fishing, have left a pocket knife laying on the ground after tying on a new lure.

Engine compartments seem to be a location of departure for knives to break free from their owners.  Throughout the years I have decided that I might be better off to hire someone to work on engines for me, just so I don't loose another knife in the process.  

A knife sure comes in handy for a small wiring job..... until you set it down and forget about it..

Our pocket knives are often left in laying in odd locations where they were once put to use. 

Knives lost under the hood of truck have been common place in my life.  Often closing the hood in disgust or simply in haste to get back to my travels after a quick repair.  A pocket knife seems to be one tool that is so easy to find it's resting place under the hood only to bounce off a mile or so down the road, likely only moments before one realizes where they left it.  Speaking of leaving knives in and around vehicles, the rear bumper of a pickup truck has claimed so many knives that I'm sure some C.E.O. of a knife company was able to buy a new vacation home just from the profits of replacements.   

There is no way that the bumper of a truck is a good place to set anything down, but it seems to be oh so convienent of a spot for conversation that I am ashamed to say I have left more than one knife to ride out it's last ride on the bumper.  

Often knives tend to be left in the location of particular frustration. No one ever enjoys having to cut vines from under a bush hog or wrapped around a garden tiller.  After typically laying on the ground in a precarious position, most people are ready to get back at it and rush the job. The process of the this particular affair, lends itself to the loss of a good knife.  After first cutting the outer layer,  the vines are often easier to remove by hand pulling.  This is where things go bad...... Instead of putting back in your pocket,  you lay the knife down, because you may need it again shortly after pulling a few loose.  BAD MOVE!   S#@$# Da#$@! $##$#*  and a few other bad words that may have not even been made up yet..   Lost another knife....

Bush hogs, tillers, and lawnmowers reap a toll on pocket knife owners, and I think they may be proud of it too...

A knife that has seen it's share hard work is hard pressed to stay with it's owner for long.  Work in some form or another is culprit of knives being left behind.  Years ago, I was doing a remodel job and when we pulled the sheet rock from the wall I found a knife left stuck in the wood much like the photo below.  

I have found several knives that were left behind at jobsites, but more times than I care to admit, I have been the one who left the poor unsuspecting knife to fend for itself.....

Boxes and packing materials seem to responsible for a lot of knife/owner breakups.....

I have found many a razor knife in packaging and laying on pallets. 

Around the farm a pocket knife is used oh so much.   When cutting hay wrapping and strings, a pocket knife is an essential tool, but also one that seems to find it's way out to pasture during the process.   I am not sure if the cows are saving them up in an arsenal for a later attack.   I'm afraid that one day an over protective momma cow may pull one out and tell me to not touch her baby.

For me, it's probably best that I just never set my pocket knife down.  EVER!

Why?  Just put it in your pocket.....

Now sometimes, it is not out of shear neglect that a pocket knife and it's owner part ways.  Certain pants pockets are just not conducive to keeping things in when you sit down.  A church pew, a reclining chair, multiple couches,  all camp chairs, and even a hammock have all been the  location of the divorce of the union of knife and owner.   

There is no doubt that the cracks of comfy chairs and couches have laid claim to many a knife.

The floorboard of a farm tractor has likely felt many pocket knife bounce off of it as it left the owners pocket.  

     Now to speak of loosing a knife, it is evident from the comments that TSA has been responsible for more knives leaving home than most any other loss that I can think of.  I have never lost one to TSA, but I have been known to bury a knife in a flower pot or landscaping outside a venue with hopes of returning to get it one day.  

If anyone happens to find a SOG Titanium knife in some landscaping near the Alabama State house,  keep it.  It served me well!

There are so many stories of lost pocket knives.  Feel free to link up with us on Facebook at the The Natural South.  Join our group and share your stories and even photos of your favorite knives and southern adventures.  The Natural South Group

Until next time:  Be Safe. Be Careful. Behave. Don’t Do Anything Illegal, Immoral, Unethical, Or Just Plain Stupid.  

JEJ

Non nobis Domine

The art of discussion

Yesterday having been the biggest sporting event of the year, I am totally happy to report that the closest I got to the "Super Bowl" was the bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup that my beautiful bride made for us last night..  It was in fact a "super" bowl of soup.     Although I didn't gain anything from the Super Bowl, I did gain some super information yesterday morning from my pastor.  I didn't get out since I had been running a fever for a couple days and thought it would be best to stay home and not spread whatever cold I had with everyone else.  So, since we didn't get out,  the wife and I decided to watch our Sunday morning gathering live on the internet.  Yep, we partner with one of those, big city churches that has technology and stuff.  I'm sure glad we do.  If not, we would have missed a real nugget of information yesterday. 

Connect before you correct

Here in the South folks have always been willing to speak their minds and willing to listen to what others have to say also.   I have made a posts about the old men that sit around the local restaurants and just talk, argue, and laugh.  Here in my neck of the woods, open discussion has never been much of a problem until recent years.  I'm afraid that tradition is all but gone.    A few days ago a friend posted an opinion on facebook that involved politics.  Everyone knows that's a good way to start a fight.  She made a simple statement, that if anyone knows her well, would know that she has a heart of pure gold and had good reason for her opinion.   The mob of people that were quick to jump on her ready to fight, didn't want to hear her heart.  They didn't care to hear her reason.  They didn't want discussion.   They wanted her to be silent.    The art of discussion is truly lost.   Most people have no concept how to listen,  process thought,  and then logically respond.   The majority that engage in any form of debate listen simply to respond,  not to understand.   To put it plainly,  no one cares to "understand". They just care to "win" said debate.   Unfortunately there are no winners on either side when this happens.

God gave us two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we talk.

Now that brings me back to my "super" information,  "Connect before you correct".  We must be intentional in our efforts to connect with the people around us.  It is normal for me to be a bit of an observer, taking note of the people and places that surround us. Before I engage in a situation, I like to be aware of what I getting into.  This has always been for my own protection, both physically and mentally.  The lesson that pastor Matt taught yesterday put that into a new perspective for me.  We must learn to listen beyond the face of the words of those that disagree with us.  If we do not attempt to connect with and have an understanding of where they are coming from then we have no chance to correct where they are going.   

The old saying goes,  no one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.  Next time you see a political post that you disagree with or a person with a different view on life, or even a person who doesn't see faith in the same manner, don't be quick to attempt to correct them.   Make sure that you take a minute to observe there life, invest some time,  build a relationship, and earn that right to correct them.   

In no way will you ever change someone's politics by calling them stupid.  You will never make a addict clean by telling them to "get some help".  You will not help someone who is struggling financially by telling them to "get a job".  You will never change someone's view of Christ unless they can view the love of Christ in your life and interactions with them.

We would all do well to hone our listening skills so we can better understand others.  The best way to help our neighbors is to invest into their lives.  The best way to change the polarization that is happening in our country is by caring about each other. The best way to show the love of Christ is by "Connection".  

Until next time:  Be Safe. Be Careful. Behave. Don’t Do Anything Illegal, Immoral, Unethical, Or Just Plain Stupid.  

JEJ

Non nobis Domine