*First the basics... God arrived me on this planet on the last day of summer, 1952 Mom and Dad were Assembly of God Home missionaries to the Apache Indians in Whiteriver,AZ *where "2Belts" now presides... ..Later by 10 years<g> Dad was running the sunday school at our Church in California, and had felt we should start a "Christian Service Brigade" group.. The Dist. officials said that a new program was under development that would fit the need my Dad and the Youth leader *Hank Cole desired. Spring 1962 Royal Rangers started.. and with great joy I dressed in a new khaki outfit, with a funny pointed hat that looked like a "pup-tent"<G> *NOW!<G> along the trail... I watched close the men that were my leaders.. And Cdr.Hank carried at all times a sharp knife.. *Not just any knife.. but a quality knife by the CASEXX Co, and he kept it SHARP! ..How sharp? At a Royal Ranger meeting he showed us his arkansas stone- oil and how he sharped his blade. *then proceeded to "shave hair" *This amazed me! The Commander then went on to say: "Guys.. listen to me.. a SHARP KNIFE is a safe knife. A DULL KNIFE IS A HAZARD.." *His logic went like this... a dull knife will require you to press hard or saw to cut.. a sharp knife cuts easy and can then be controlled with grace... Commander produced a chunk of sisal rope, and had us cut off a length with our "boy knives" and just like today it was hazard county!<G> Cdr.Hank got us quiet.. opened his CASE XX TRAPPER and the knife cut like slicing through butter.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *This amazed me.. in fact<G> I got me motivated to try it.. The Hardware store where we bought our Ranger Uniforms from was on the way to Church, and as soon as I could I crammed birthday money in the pocket of my levi's and jumped on my "Swinn Singray" and peddled down... In the blond oak case behind glass were several pocket knives, I had studied the many types, and varied uses in a old "Golden Book of Camping" and selected a "barlow style" 2 blade.. The selection available had a "Case barlow for $2.75" and another.. a Model #62024 2 blade for a whopping $5.00! *I bought it ;') *What happiness followed as I paid the salesman and went outside and opened a small box and unwrapped my own CASEXX pocket knife.. I couldn't wait for Rangers! "Cdr.HANK! *check this cool knife out! ...It's a CaseXX!" "That's the stuff" said Commander... *I carried that knife when FCF started, and everywhere I was ,,,*It was until a stranger ordered me to give it up. At the Naval Training Center, recruits are processed and their belongings are confiscated and searched.. My *special CASEXX 2 blade knife was not allowed, and could not be returned-shiped or mailed anywhere. *Time passed.. and I never saw another CASEXX #62024 new or used... ----==+==------ Our lives intertwine and mix joy and sorrow.. Offense with resolution... just like the verses of Ecleseasties mix with the music of a sixties rock song to *Turn-turn-turn.... "A Time and purpose for everything under heaven.." What was taken from me? *Absolutely nothing! The Bible says that "things of this world will pass away..." We shouldn't be so "hung up" on our "things" or belongings, because they can go away as quick as the blink of an eye. Rangers remains alive today, all these years later... Cdr.Hank is part of the Rangernet fellowship<G> My Dad is retired and camping this week in the shadow of tall mountains... I have another Birthday to celebrate with my Wife and Son.. and another day to put together what was meant to be... another chance to Live by the GOLDEN RULE and the Ranger CODE. That we should live with no regrets, and embrace Life with a smile and a hearty Hi-oooo Silver! ...and over on E-bay.com *I found my missing pocketknife with item #167098569 !!! -=A=- _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
