Weekend Open Thread: Happy Birthday America

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
·9 Comments·

Happy Birthday America.

You are as battered and bloodied as I have seen you in my 44 years on this Earth, and it breaks my heart. I know that we have had our back to the wall many times before, but I am not sure that there has been a time where so many of our own citizens and politicians have been working so hard to tear away the very foundation of that wall. It doesn’t leave me in a very celebratory mood this year.

But I owe it to my children to try to give them as much of a sense of normalcy as we can, this year of all years. We will be taking them to the annual Anvil Shoot at the Museum of Appalachia, making ribs, and setting off fireworks. We went hiking in the GSMNP today, had a picnic, and  spent some time playing in the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. I am doing my best to keep on living each day to the fullest, but my morale is flagging a bit to be honest. I care deeply for this country, and it seems like each day brings a new gut punch.

On a lighter note, I had a great phone call last night with Ben Petersen. I am writing a review of the Banter for this month’s print issue, and it was great to catch up with him. I really like the knife, and have been putting it to good use.

The top photo of Mount Rushmore was taken in 2002, when a couple of newlyweds drove across country to their new home in Idaho. It was take on the 4th of July during our move. Ironically, the fireworks were on the 3rd. We were treated to a performance of patriotic songs by the glee club from a military unit whom I would gladly credit were I able to remember. I think of that evening every time I hear “When the caissons go rolling along…”

I don’t have a knife to give away this week, I am still waiting on the knives from Artisan, and I didn’t grab something from the shelf on Wednesday. We are getting low on knives at the moment. David M. is our winner from last week, and this week I will be giving away a copy of Goins Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings, which is the go to reference for dating production knives. Premium Online Members can access the complete book online as well.

Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings (Second Edition) by John and Charlotte Goins

So open thread away. Up to 5 comments/replies count as entries.

What are you doing for the 4th? Are you as pessimistic as I am? Or conversely, tell us why you are hopeful. Again, I am sorry about that. I didn’t mean to follow my muse in that direction, but anything uplifting coming from me right now felt phony. So I will leave you with the words of a man more eloquent than I to ponder. Have a good one everyone. God Bless those who stand watch over our freedom, and God Bless America.

 

I have back-dated last week’s post. You can find it here:

Weekend Open Thread: Fantasy vs. Reality

 

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

9 Responses

  1. We are definitely in some strange times.
    As Rodney King said ” why can’t We all just get along?”

    Reply

  2. Monday evening here in Hagerstown and these 90+ F days sap my energy. Been getting up and out to nature by 0800 hrs before the sun moves around to the southeast. Garden loves the sunshine! Still toting the buckets of water to the tomatoes BUT I am now working the hose to most of the other vegetables. Hell, I gotta water my compost pile to keep it working! “Animal House” is classic. Thanks for that memory, Mark. Yo’ CMEAT, “21”? I got that one. Everything survived the explosions I hope. Lastly, Tom, you are spot on re people being “PC” in today’s climate of so-called cultural unrest. I have noticed that the word “Black” is being capitalized in newspapers and other reading material. So what? How does that affect me? It doesn’t. Once more, as the song goes, “There is a Black one who doesn’t like the Green one who doesn’t like the Blue one and so on, and so on and Scooby-dooby-doobie . . . WE-E-E-e-e ARE Everyday People. Shaft would say, “Right On, brother”.

    My friend and knifemaker, Steve Nuckels, gave me vintage issues of “Knife Illustrated” and “Blade” going back to 1996 and up through 2012. I really have enjoyed “looking back” through them. Of course, we can get all the “Knife” we want in “The Vault”. That’s it for me. Hocky

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  3. Cheer up Clay.
    I, and I feel most Americans, still believe in in our American values. We still believe in logic, reason, law and order, and the principles layout by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution of this great Nation. Most folks are just walking on egg shells in this politically correct environment, holding back comment in this, “offend me please,” world we find ourselves in.

    Darwinism, and cause and effect have a way of correcting our moral compass, and it will swing true north once again.

    Best regards, and Happy Independence Day.

    Tom

    Reply

  4. it could be raining. maybe it is.
    on top of it all, my boy decided to follow his gal out to d.c. for her med school partnership. as numb as that has me his mom is seeing spots. we got granma out for his farewell dinner; at 92 she doesn’t leave for much.
    working a 16hr shift today. found a sidewalk cafe that threw some great chillaquiles this morn.
    looking forward to sunset, i have a roll of 4000 black cats (will the chinese change that products name?) and a big ol’ half stick to rule them all. as long as i can still count to 21 on sunday it’ll be fun.
    get your uncle remus mole asses while you still can. and vote like your country depends on it.

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  5. Hey Mark R., “. . . when the Hessian’s bombed Pearl Harbor!” ??? You testing our knowledge of history? Clay, you are “44” and have a young family. I appreciate you sharing the fun times that your family is having. That takes me back to the early sixties when Mom and Dad would load all of us (6 kids) into the Chevy station wagon with several coolers, Mom’s sides of macaroni salad, potato salad, pickled eggs and her fried chicken. Burgers and hot dogs for the grill. Off we went to the Conococheague Creek (aka a “crick”) amusement park, or Greenbriar State Park. We would get there by sunrise and stay until sunset. Summer holidays and a lot of Sundays were spent as a family. Those were the best of times. Present day, I think each one of us should remember a good time and share it with someone. Americans will find a means to adapt to the current struggles posed by a virus, inequality, and strife between people of all colors and creeds. “We are everyday people” Sly and the Family Stone

    Enjoy life, Embrace humanity

    Hocky in Hagerstown

    Reply

    1. Merely an attempt at 2 things- 1) humor and 2) a subtle reference to a running joke on another web site I believe Clay is familiar with. It regularly mocks the far left’s lack of knowledge of history. Hoped it would lift Clay’s spirits some.
      Enjoy your day!.

      Reply

  6. Clay, I’m looking forward to grilling something for the family. Eldest, Son-in-law and grands will be over later. Watching fireworks from the nearby school parking lot. Easy to social distance!
    It’s easy to be down if all we do is watch the news-all Carona all the time. Yeah, Texas took a step backwards this week-and it felt like a punch in the gut; and yes, there are those among us who would destroy this great country. They want you to be discouraged. They want you to quit. But neighbors are still chatty, I still see folks smiling and waiving, there are still random acts of kindness. Sometime tomorrow re-read the Declaration of independence. An annual tradition in my family! We were born in adversity. And we’re worth fighting for. So enjoy the day. Fly the flag. Enjoy that well designed, simple but beautiful knife your friend designed and gifted you with. There’s a lot of good folks out there. And be inspired by 1776.. It wasn’t over when the Hessian s bombed Pearl Harbor! And the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.. God bless you and yours. And God bless America!

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