Research Graph
I was taught at a young age that a boy needs to be able to tie basic knots for the variety of work related and recreational activities he’ll do. For the most part I fulfill that requirement. I can tie your basics; bowline, heaving line, slip, clove, guy-line, sheep shank, constrictor, barrel, but I’m not rope or knot master. I am however always learning of a new knot and trying it out and about a year ago my buddy Curt asked me if I’d ever heard of ‘fusion knots’. He figured if anyone would know it would be me. He thought that for two reasons; first, I am always heckling him when he practices ‘if you can’t tie a knot tie a lot’, and second I am considered among my peers as a king of useless knowledge. But I had never heard of these fusion knots, however I did tell him I’d know more by morning. With that stored in my head, when I got home that night I Googled fusion knots and the standard ten thousand links came up.
The first link that caught my eye was titled, ‘tying fusion knots by…blah-blah’. *Click* that click alone was the beginning of a small obsession. The page was filled with mini links, the links where pictures of cool looking knots that seemed intricate and way more complicated than I was used to and they all had names that I’d never heard before; River bends, Solomon bars, Bugler’s braid. Clicking on these sub links took me to instructional write ups with rough drawings. I grabbed a hank of parachord from my shop and tried to tie a few with no success. The instruction appeared to be written by a NASA shuttle technician and the illustrations by his three year old. I hit the back arrow to see what other sites had to offer.
I clicked through various links and got a little more informed each time but didn’t find any site that could teach me how to tie these knots, explain their function or even fill me in on the definition of a ‘fusion knot’. On one site it might show me a really detailed picture of a finished Solomon bar but wouldn’t show me how to get there or what to do with it once I had it. The next would tell me Solomon Bars are good to use as belts but again, had poor instructional methods and didn’t fill me in on what made this ‘fusion’ material. I was getting a bit agitated but that’s par for the course when you’re on the hunt for knowledge.
About twelve to fifteen sites into my downward spiral of failed results and getting groggy I hit the alpha and omega, the fiddler’s green of my search. This link took me two a blog style site with Youtube video support and within a few seconds I had come to the conclusion, this must be the guy who invented fusion knots. Besides the fancy headers and tool buttons, the first useable piece on the site was a dictionary style blurb explaining what fusion knots are. Then there were the knot links that when clicked upon would take you to a very well filmed video of each knot, step by step. Finally I knew that a fusion knot is a decoratively tied rope that also has practical and functional uses. So from the previous site where it said an S-bar could make a good belt it meant that it is the fusion between decoration and function. Also I have the method to tie such items.
That site has been on my favorites bar since that night. I’ve learned how to tie several pieces that have proved useful and been the topic of conversation when people see them. I have; Solomon bar tool lanyards, a slats rescue belt, river bar bracelets that make great gifts, monkey’s fists (originally used as a heaving line tool, but now also makes a great dog catch toy.) and many other neat tied pieces. On an end note, it turns out the gentleman that does all this tying started out hosting parties where he would teach couples how to add knot tying bondage to their intimate moments…I’ll stick with fusion knots.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Contrast
Here we are again at another famous bonfire hosted by Chris, Jack and me. We have a burn every weekend we can during good weather. It’s dark enough to light the pile and we’re all well into the libations. I don’t even offer to touch the fire off, not that I’m not capable but I know it’s going to much more entertaining to watch Chris and Jack battle it out. Jack crumples up some paper and wood chips and strategically places them around and in the pile and starts to light each one of them with his high-end twin butane cigar lighter. Uh-oh here comes Chris with a large coffee tumbler. I know what’s in that cup and Jack would too but he’s not paying attention. With a casual toss, Chris lobs cup and all onto one of Jacks little paper fires and *Woosh*. Instantly the entire pile is crackling to life with fifteen foot flames. Jack jumps back starts checking to see if he’s on fire while Chris is howling with laughter. “How’d you like that Nancy?” Chris ribs. Jack just gives him a deadpan look, “You’re a fucking cave man you realize that?” These are my oldest and closest friends, and being my friend is pretty much it for similarities. I’ve known Jack for twenty-six years and Chris I’ve known for a lot less time of twenty-four years. As different as those two are it’s amazing they even admit to knowing each other let alone be best friends for so long. I often wonder if it’s an ‘opposites attract’ situation or a, ‘keep your friends close and enemies closer’ deal
Right off the bat you can see the differences. Jack does not own work clothes, he has clothes he’s willing to work in and then send to the cleaners. He’s has out fits for any social occasion, suits, sports clothes, western apparel etc. Then there’s Chris; if he needs to dress up, this involves a trip to Walmart to pick up an outfit because the last outfit got dirty fixing the van or deciding it was a good day to wrestle with the dog in the rain. On a day to day basis Jack sits around his house in ‘slacks’ a button down and clean sneakers or shoes while Chris is wearing greasy work shorts a tattered tank top and just the skin on his feet he was born with. Seeing these two together in public or at an event is like watching a clash of the classes.
Both men work hard and are good guys to have on your team regardless of what the project is. However the approaches they take couldn’t be more different. If we need to lift an engine block of the shop floor Jack will have a plan set up to hook a chain fall here and there, use the strong back bar as a fulcrum and then lift and drift the engine on to the work bench or into the vehicle. Jacks theory is more mental less physical whenever possible even if it takes longer. Chris will have none of that tom foolery. Chris is an animal so it only makes sense to just heave the block up with man power and drop it in place. If we try Jack’s plan, Chris helps but will let you know this is how sissies do things. If we go with Chris’ plan, Jack will tell Chris; “You’re gonna kill yourself idiot and I’m not going to feel bad.” The project always gets done but sometimes it takes as long to decide how.
Jack is a social butterfly and a perfect stranger. At gatherings of any size and for any reason, Jack is right at home. He’s able to hold his own in any conversation and has the social manners of a socialite or playboy. In simple terms Chris does not really like humans. Sometimes we wonder if he just barely tolerates us. If he is forced to attend events that involve more than his close friends and family, he tends to find a chair or corner out of the way and avoid interaction until his wife decides he’s suffered enough. Jack will be polite and show genuine interest in others. Chris is more likely to feign interest for as long as his impatience will allow and then find the quickest means out of the situation.
Those are my two best friends and as different as they are, they’ve managed a friendship that spans over two decades. I can’t be sure but I’d almost bet that the reason for this long running streak is because the one trait they both have is pure stubbornness. Neither will let either see the other quit first. I don’t know which one I’m more like. I can’t stopping reffing their differences long enough figure it out.
Right off the bat you can see the differences. Jack does not own work clothes, he has clothes he’s willing to work in and then send to the cleaners. He’s has out fits for any social occasion, suits, sports clothes, western apparel etc. Then there’s Chris; if he needs to dress up, this involves a trip to Walmart to pick up an outfit because the last outfit got dirty fixing the van or deciding it was a good day to wrestle with the dog in the rain. On a day to day basis Jack sits around his house in ‘slacks’ a button down and clean sneakers or shoes while Chris is wearing greasy work shorts a tattered tank top and just the skin on his feet he was born with. Seeing these two together in public or at an event is like watching a clash of the classes.
Both men work hard and are good guys to have on your team regardless of what the project is. However the approaches they take couldn’t be more different. If we need to lift an engine block of the shop floor Jack will have a plan set up to hook a chain fall here and there, use the strong back bar as a fulcrum and then lift and drift the engine on to the work bench or into the vehicle. Jacks theory is more mental less physical whenever possible even if it takes longer. Chris will have none of that tom foolery. Chris is an animal so it only makes sense to just heave the block up with man power and drop it in place. If we try Jack’s plan, Chris helps but will let you know this is how sissies do things. If we go with Chris’ plan, Jack will tell Chris; “You’re gonna kill yourself idiot and I’m not going to feel bad.” The project always gets done but sometimes it takes as long to decide how.
Jack is a social butterfly and a perfect stranger. At gatherings of any size and for any reason, Jack is right at home. He’s able to hold his own in any conversation and has the social manners of a socialite or playboy. In simple terms Chris does not really like humans. Sometimes we wonder if he just barely tolerates us. If he is forced to attend events that involve more than his close friends and family, he tends to find a chair or corner out of the way and avoid interaction until his wife decides he’s suffered enough. Jack will be polite and show genuine interest in others. Chris is more likely to feign interest for as long as his impatience will allow and then find the quickest means out of the situation.
Those are my two best friends and as different as they are, they’ve managed a friendship that spans over two decades. I can’t be sure but I’d almost bet that the reason for this long running streak is because the one trait they both have is pure stubbornness. Neither will let either see the other quit first. I don’t know which one I’m more like. I can’t stopping reffing their differences long enough figure it out.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Contrast Intro Edit
Here we are again at another famous bonfire hosted by Chris, Jack and me. We have a burn every weekend we can during good weather. It’s dark enough to light the pile and we’re all well into the libations. I don’t even offer to touch the fire off, not that I’m not capable but I know it’s going to much more entertaining to watch Chris and Jack battle it out. Jack crumples up some paper and wood chips and strategically places them around and in the pile and starts to light each one of them with his high-end twin butane cigar lighter. Uh-oh here comes Chris with a large coffee tumbler. I know what’s in that cup and Jack would too but he’s not paying attention. With a casual toss, Chris lobs cup and all onto one of Jacks little paper fires and *Woosh*. Instantly the entire pile is crackling to life with fifteen foot flames. Jack jumps back starts checking to see if he’s on fire while Chris is howling with laughter. “How’d you like that Nancy?” Chris ribs. Jack just gives him a deadpan look, “You’re a fucking cave man you realize that?” These are my oldest and closest friends, and being my friend is pretty much it for similarities. I’ve known Jack for twenty-six years and Chris I’ve known for a lot less time of twenty-four years. As different as those two are it’s amazing they even admit to knowing each other let alone be best friends for so long. I often wonder if it’s an ‘opposites attract’ situation or a, ‘keep your friends close and enemies closer’ deal.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Contrast Intros
Chris and Jack
Intro one
Chris and Jack are my oldest and closest friends, and being my friend is pretty much it for similarities. I’ve known Jack for twenty-six years and Chris I’ve known for a lot less time of twenty-four years. As different as those two are it’s amazing they even admit to knowing each other let alone be best friends for so long. I often wonder if it’s an ‘opposites attract’ situation or a, ‘keep your friends close and enemies closer’ deal.
Intro two
I’ve had the same two best friends for the last twenty-four years. Chris and Jack, I couldn’t ask for two better friends or two more polar opposite friends either. Whenever we all get together, I get the slight feeling I’m in a modern day episode of the odd couple. Chris is the true epitome of a rough and tumble redneck, where as Jack is culturally diverse and has the social manners of a noble. Oil, meet water.
Intro one
Chris and Jack are my oldest and closest friends, and being my friend is pretty much it for similarities. I’ve known Jack for twenty-six years and Chris I’ve known for a lot less time of twenty-four years. As different as those two are it’s amazing they even admit to knowing each other let alone be best friends for so long. I often wonder if it’s an ‘opposites attract’ situation or a, ‘keep your friends close and enemies closer’ deal.
Intro two
I’ve had the same two best friends for the last twenty-four years. Chris and Jack, I couldn’t ask for two better friends or two more polar opposite friends either. Whenever we all get together, I get the slight feeling I’m in a modern day episode of the odd couple. Chris is the true epitome of a rough and tumble redneck, where as Jack is culturally diverse and has the social manners of a noble. Oil, meet water.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Mack the Knife
Man, I love my knives and I’ve got several. Now before you go thinking I’m one of those crazy-eye, redneck Rambos with a ten inch combat knife on my belt, I’m not and in my opinion that’s not a knife is a short sword. I just believe a good knife is an essential tool to have and the job I’m doing defines what a good knife is. I don’t concern myself with the handle size or shape; I can replace that if I choose. The length of the blade plays a part but not as big a part as some would think. For me it’s all about the cutting edge or “business end” as my father would say. When it comes to the blade of the knife, I have found, with one of three blade styles, I can perform any task requiring a knife.
The first blade style is thin steel with a single bevel. Examples of this type of blade are; utility knives, surgical tools and my all time favorite, the original Swiss Army Tinker. The back of the blade is at most 1/16” wide but usually much thinner. This means the steel tapers down from back to edge with not steep angle change. What does this mean as far as cutting? Well, there is almost no drag from the back of the blade and since you start and finish the cut using the same angle there’s no fiber pull or forcing the blade into the material. I use my Tinker for high detail work such as wood carving, whittling and other tasks where you have to be precise in what stays and what goes. I can’t imagine trying to carve Santa’s nostrils out with a Rambo knife.
I do a lot of activities that I wouldn’t let my precious Tinker near. So, I reach for my splicer. The splicer style of blade is good for more abrasive and repetitive works. I’ll use it if I’m cutting rope, opening cardboard boxes or making impromptu tent stakes and marshmallow sticks. (Rope and cardboard are both horribly destructive on knife blades.) The splicer blade at the back end is maybe 1/8” at most and angles down toward the edge. Before it meets the edge it changes the angle five to ten degrees. This puts more meat in the cutting edge allowing the blade to stay honed longer and lets me put more force behind it. The down side to this is that I spend more time sharpening this knife due to the tasks I use it for.
The last and least used blade style is the chisel blade. This blade has the shape of a wood chisel but not such a steep angle. It is completely flat on one side of the blade and tapers down to a razor edge on the other side. Most blades of this style have a serrated edge and I can’t figure out why. If your knife is sharp you shouldn’t need the serrations and if you need the serrations, get a saw. But the shape of this blade is ideal for cutting or shaving something off the surface without digging into the body of the material. I used this style of blade to shave while on Army field exercises, it will cut the hair off but due to the flat side it won’t dig into your skin. I’ll also use it occasionally if my wood carving has gotten moist or sat too long and developed fibers on the surface, this will take them off without cutting the actual carving.
Ok, I admit, not all of the knives in my possession are good knives that fall into one of the above three categories. I’ve received several knives as gifts from friends and family all with good intentions. I’ve won some as prizes and even bought a few in a “pinch” situation. But those knives are all corralled in an ammo can in the back of my shop and probably won’t see the light of day for a long time. Why? They’re not the right blade for any job.
The first blade style is thin steel with a single bevel. Examples of this type of blade are; utility knives, surgical tools and my all time favorite, the original Swiss Army Tinker. The back of the blade is at most 1/16” wide but usually much thinner. This means the steel tapers down from back to edge with not steep angle change. What does this mean as far as cutting? Well, there is almost no drag from the back of the blade and since you start and finish the cut using the same angle there’s no fiber pull or forcing the blade into the material. I use my Tinker for high detail work such as wood carving, whittling and other tasks where you have to be precise in what stays and what goes. I can’t imagine trying to carve Santa’s nostrils out with a Rambo knife.
I do a lot of activities that I wouldn’t let my precious Tinker near. So, I reach for my splicer. The splicer style of blade is good for more abrasive and repetitive works. I’ll use it if I’m cutting rope, opening cardboard boxes or making impromptu tent stakes and marshmallow sticks. (Rope and cardboard are both horribly destructive on knife blades.) The splicer blade at the back end is maybe 1/8” at most and angles down toward the edge. Before it meets the edge it changes the angle five to ten degrees. This puts more meat in the cutting edge allowing the blade to stay honed longer and lets me put more force behind it. The down side to this is that I spend more time sharpening this knife due to the tasks I use it for.
The last and least used blade style is the chisel blade. This blade has the shape of a wood chisel but not such a steep angle. It is completely flat on one side of the blade and tapers down to a razor edge on the other side. Most blades of this style have a serrated edge and I can’t figure out why. If your knife is sharp you shouldn’t need the serrations and if you need the serrations, get a saw. But the shape of this blade is ideal for cutting or shaving something off the surface without digging into the body of the material. I used this style of blade to shave while on Army field exercises, it will cut the hair off but due to the flat side it won’t dig into your skin. I’ll also use it occasionally if my wood carving has gotten moist or sat too long and developed fibers on the surface, this will take them off without cutting the actual carving.
Ok, I admit, not all of the knives in my possession are good knives that fall into one of the above three categories. I’ve received several knives as gifts from friends and family all with good intentions. I’ve won some as prizes and even bought a few in a “pinch” situation. But those knives are all corralled in an ammo can in the back of my shop and probably won’t see the light of day for a long time. Why? They’re not the right blade for any job.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Classification Outro
Outro one.
Ok, I admit, not all of the knives in my possession are good knives that fall into one of the above three categories. I’ve received several knives as gifts from friends and family all with good intentions. I’ve won some as prizes and even bought a few in a “pinch” situation. But those knives are all corralled in a ammo can in the back of my shop and probably won’t see the light of day for a long time. Why? They’re not the right blade for any job.
Outro two
There is more to a knife blade than what I’ve listed above. There are countless sub categories and variables in each blade type. One also has to learn the proper techniques to sharpen and maintain each type of blade. However If you start off with one of the three standards above and know which one is right for the job, the rest will fall into place with practice and patience
Intros posted below
Ok, I admit, not all of the knives in my possession are good knives that fall into one of the above three categories. I’ve received several knives as gifts from friends and family all with good intentions. I’ve won some as prizes and even bought a few in a “pinch” situation. But those knives are all corralled in a ammo can in the back of my shop and probably won’t see the light of day for a long time. Why? They’re not the right blade for any job.
Outro two
There is more to a knife blade than what I’ve listed above. There are countless sub categories and variables in each blade type. One also has to learn the proper techniques to sharpen and maintain each type of blade. However If you start off with one of the three standards above and know which one is right for the job, the rest will fall into place with practice and patience
Intros posted below
Classification Intro
Intro one
“That’s not a knife, this is a knife!” That’s the popular line often quoted from Crocodile Dundee. Sorry Croc I wouldn’t call either one of them a proper knife. I guess you can take any random hunk of metal and put a handle on it and call it a knife. Not this guy. I take my knives seriously and believe you have to have the right one for the job at hand. Any knife in order to be worth a damn has to be well taken care of, sharpened properly and stored properly. However what makes a knife good for a job all comes down to the blade and blades can be broken down into three neat categories.
Intro two.
Knives, in one form or another, have played a part in human existence for thousands of years. They’ve taken on countless shapes and styles from the stoned dirks made by the early Egyptians, to the wooden hunting knives used by many south American tribes. Technically a knife only has to be stronger than the material your cutting and sharp enough to break the fiber of that material. I, however, hold my knives dear to me and believe a proper knife is all about the blade. The blade, or business, of the knife should have one of three types of blades on it. If it doesn’t have one of the following three, it is a toy knife and won’t find a place among my tools.
“That’s not a knife, this is a knife!” That’s the popular line often quoted from Crocodile Dundee. Sorry Croc I wouldn’t call either one of them a proper knife. I guess you can take any random hunk of metal and put a handle on it and call it a knife. Not this guy. I take my knives seriously and believe you have to have the right one for the job at hand. Any knife in order to be worth a damn has to be well taken care of, sharpened properly and stored properly. However what makes a knife good for a job all comes down to the blade and blades can be broken down into three neat categories.
Intro two.
Knives, in one form or another, have played a part in human existence for thousands of years. They’ve taken on countless shapes and styles from the stoned dirks made by the early Egyptians, to the wooden hunting knives used by many south American tribes. Technically a knife only has to be stronger than the material your cutting and sharp enough to break the fiber of that material. I, however, hold my knives dear to me and believe a proper knife is all about the blade. The blade, or business, of the knife should have one of three types of blades on it. If it doesn’t have one of the following three, it is a toy knife and won’t find a place among my tools.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Metagraph - Cause Essay
I was sitting at my desk staring at a blank MSO document. I had a nice fresh Nat Sherman billowing smoke in my fingers, a chilled Killians in hand and my boots planted firmly on my end table. I was thinking about a million different things as I always do. I was trying to keep a tether to the actual topic at hand, a cause essay, and failing miserably. I didn’t want to right a cause essay, didn’t really want to write anything at all. I’m not the biggest fan of writing, Why can’t I just meet Mr. G. once a week and talk an essay to him. At least he wouldn’t be able to tell if I missed a comma or hyphenated two words that shouldn’t be. My Pepere popped into my thoughts and how he’d probably chide me for being foolish or being a “heathen” as he liked to call me. Pepere, there’s a man I owe a lot to, like the army deal. That’s when the memories started playing out about how and why I decided to join the army. Topic in hand I just started typing soup to nuts. Then I butchered it up, edited and handed it in piece meal as instructed. Another assignment done…I hope.
Why are you in my army?
I was sitting on the tiled floor with sixty other young men and women. We were all probably thinking similar thoughts. ‘What the hell have I done?’ It’s the first day of basic training and we were getting our official rude awakening into Army life. Drill Sgt. Whigham was standing before us all shooting information at us in a very harsh rat-a-tat fashion when he asks; “Why are you here in my army? If any of you stand up and say it’s for the college money you might as well ring out now, you don’t join my army for college money.” Well, there’s the million dollar question. Why was I in this man’s army?
My father’s opinion about the military is simple; every able-bodied, red-blooded American ought to do his time in the service. I don’t know if I agree with that now, but when I was a young boy I sure did. On the rare occasion my father talked about his time in the army and his tour in Viet Nam, I would sit there in rapture taking it all in. Then I’d go off on a tangent about how when I joined I was going to be just like him. “Son, Son.” he’d say, “Slow down. You know you gotta lotta work to do to get to that point. The army doesn’t like boys who talk back and lie. The army wants you to keep your nose clean and your mouth shut. I don’t really think you can do it.” At that point I was pretty mad and in my mind swore to him and at him. “I’ll show you!”
My grandfather, Pepere, he was a real hard man to love. My mother, siblings and I lived in the apartment above his. He was the father figure to me Monday through Friday and he was the man who taught me to be a man. Of course I fought him every step of the way. He was stern, ruthless and borderline mean when it came to the education and discipline of us children. I don’t really know if it was how the old French-Canadians did things or maybe an effect of being a former drunk but I didn’t like it and made his job as hard as I could. One of the few times he’d laugh was when I mentioned my intent of joining the Army. It wasn’t a joyous laugh; it was a scoffing laugh and would usually be followed up with a statement such as, “You, in the Army? You won’t last a week in the Army. You can’t stand still, you can’t keep your mouth shut…” And again I’d internally curse and vow to show him that he’s wrong.
Then there was me. I wanted to prove my father and grandfather wrong and I also wanted to prove myself right. I knew what my elders were saying was accurate. I was an out of control, mouthy kid who liked to buck authority at every turn. However I also knew that I had the focus and determination to succeed when the goals were important to me. I was scared of the possibility that I may fail and Dad and Pepere would be saying "I knew it!" And that just wasn't an option I could let happen. I guess there was also a small part of me that actually wanted the adventure and to escape Maine for a bit, but that wasn't enough to be considered a driving force.
Drill Sgt! Pvt. McPherson, the two most important men in my life told me I’d never make it in the Army, I’m just here to prove them wrong Drill Sgt.” After a few seconds that seemed like hours of DS Whigham giving me an appraising half-scowl, he nodded and said he’d help me prove them wrong. That’s it, the reason I was in Whigham’s Army. I never had any thoughts of reenlisting, no desire to move up the ranks. I liked and hated my time in the army equally, but it was all worth it when I could look Dad and Pepere in the eyes and say, “I did it!” When that day came, they both said what I knew they would. “I’m proud of you; I always knew you could do it.”
My father’s opinion about the military is simple; every able-bodied, red-blooded American ought to do his time in the service. I don’t know if I agree with that now, but when I was a young boy I sure did. On the rare occasion my father talked about his time in the army and his tour in Viet Nam, I would sit there in rapture taking it all in. Then I’d go off on a tangent about how when I joined I was going to be just like him. “Son, Son.” he’d say, “Slow down. You know you gotta lotta work to do to get to that point. The army doesn’t like boys who talk back and lie. The army wants you to keep your nose clean and your mouth shut. I don’t really think you can do it.” At that point I was pretty mad and in my mind swore to him and at him. “I’ll show you!”
My grandfather, Pepere, he was a real hard man to love. My mother, siblings and I lived in the apartment above his. He was the father figure to me Monday through Friday and he was the man who taught me to be a man. Of course I fought him every step of the way. He was stern, ruthless and borderline mean when it came to the education and discipline of us children. I don’t really know if it was how the old French-Canadians did things or maybe an effect of being a former drunk but I didn’t like it and made his job as hard as I could. One of the few times he’d laugh was when I mentioned my intent of joining the Army. It wasn’t a joyous laugh; it was a scoffing laugh and would usually be followed up with a statement such as, “You, in the Army? You won’t last a week in the Army. You can’t stand still, you can’t keep your mouth shut…” And again I’d internally curse and vow to show him that he’s wrong.
Then there was me. I wanted to prove my father and grandfather wrong and I also wanted to prove myself right. I knew what my elders were saying was accurate. I was an out of control, mouthy kid who liked to buck authority at every turn. However I also knew that I had the focus and determination to succeed when the goals were important to me. I was scared of the possibility that I may fail and Dad and Pepere would be saying "I knew it!" And that just wasn't an option I could let happen. I guess there was also a small part of me that actually wanted the adventure and to escape Maine for a bit, but that wasn't enough to be considered a driving force.
Drill Sgt! Pvt. McPherson, the two most important men in my life told me I’d never make it in the Army, I’m just here to prove them wrong Drill Sgt.” After a few seconds that seemed like hours of DS Whigham giving me an appraising half-scowl, he nodded and said he’d help me prove them wrong. That’s it, the reason I was in Whigham’s Army. I never had any thoughts of reenlisting, no desire to move up the ranks. I liked and hated my time in the army equally, but it was all worth it when I could look Dad and Pepere in the eyes and say, “I did it!” When that day came, they both said what I knew they would. “I’m proud of you; I always knew you could do it.”
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