I can relate. I was probably the only girl at school that carried a pocket knife to eat my lunch with. Not sure how I got away with it. This post kind of reminded me of the spirit of the movie Christmas Story.
If I had been your mom, I’m sure I would have handled it the same way (but have been inwardly thinking Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, etc. and silently laughing).
I regularly fly with a knife in my checked baggage when I go on camping adventures. It's not a problem in 99% of countries. However, I recently discovered on a trip to Scotland that it's illegal to carry a blade longer than the width of your palm. Fortunately, no one checked while I was there.
This is a hilarious story! I can practically feel the weight of the guilt in your pocket alongside the knife.
Thirteen-year-old logic is undefeated. Who wouldn't want a trusty L.L. Bean knife for wilderness adventures (or in this case, exploring the Denver Mint)?
Thanks for sharing this anecdote! You had me laughing out loud at the security checks and Wild Cody Earp Hickok. Sounds like a valuable lesson learned (the hard way) about hidden weapons and Christmas shopping sprees.
Walter, you had me enthralled throughout. Your storytelling is superb and it was heartwarming to see the relationship between a security guard and a boy sharing a bonding moment.
Who knows about today. It seems unlikely that the young children today, now this old man's grandkids, will ever know the simple joy of a pocket knife.I understand safety concerns, but it still seems a shame that what was once a right of passage is no longer readily available to them.
I've carried daily from age 11 to the present. From Buck pocket knives to my current Mel Pardue assisted lock blade from Benchmade. It was, in fact, an absolute right of passage for midwestern kids in the 70s.Great reflection.
Covey calls these ‘natural laws’ of human behaviour ‘principles’ and believes they are part of the human condition and human consciousness. In a nutshell, they are the principle of fairness, of integrity and honesty, of human dignity; the principle of service to others, the striving for excellence and the principle of potential; that we can grow and develop more and more talents. Potential is highly related to the principle of growth- the process of releasing potential and continuously developing it.
Covey states that these principles or guidelines for human conduct have been proven to have enduring, permanent value and are fundamental and self-evident. Now, in these cynical times, it would be easy to dismiss these ideas as ‘ sentimental goo’. Our culture encourages us to get ahead at any cost and grab what we can while we can without much concern for fundamental values. However, look at it this way. Consider the absurdity of attempting to live an effective, meaningful life based on their opposites. I doubt that anyone would seriously consider unfairness, deceit, baseness, uselessness, mediocrity, or degeneration to be a solid foundation for lasting personal happiness and success. And they certainly would not be a solid foundation for a successful business.
Stephen R. Covey believes that there are certain “natural laws that are woven into the fabric of every civilised society throughout history and comprise the roots of every family and institution that has endured and prospered.” The principles he refers to are not esoteric, mysterious, or religious. However, these principles are part of every enduring religious tradition, as well as enduring social philosophies and ethical systems throughout the history of human civilization
I can relate. I was probably the only girl at school that carried a pocket knife to eat my lunch with. Not sure how I got away with it. This post kind of reminded me of the spirit of the movie Christmas Story.
If I had been your mom, I’m sure I would have handled it the same way (but have been inwardly thinking Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, etc. and silently laughing).
So enjoyable. What a memory. As a mother of two men I can so identify with your mom.
This is so funny and tender!
I regularly fly with a knife in my checked baggage when I go on camping adventures. It's not a problem in 99% of countries. However, I recently discovered on a trip to Scotland that it's illegal to carry a blade longer than the width of your palm. Fortunately, no one checked while I was there.
This is a hilarious story! I can practically feel the weight of the guilt in your pocket alongside the knife.
Thirteen-year-old logic is undefeated. Who wouldn't want a trusty L.L. Bean knife for wilderness adventures (or in this case, exploring the Denver Mint)?
Thanks for sharing this anecdote! You had me laughing out loud at the security checks and Wild Cody Earp Hickok. Sounds like a valuable lesson learned (the hard way) about hidden weapons and Christmas shopping sprees.
Walter, you had me enthralled throughout. Your storytelling is superb and it was heartwarming to see the relationship between a security guard and a boy sharing a bonding moment.
Who knows about today. It seems unlikely that the young children today, now this old man's grandkids, will ever know the simple joy of a pocket knife.I understand safety concerns, but it still seems a shame that what was once a right of passage is no longer readily available to them.
I've carried daily from age 11 to the present. From Buck pocket knives to my current Mel Pardue assisted lock blade from Benchmade. It was, in fact, an absolute right of passage for midwestern kids in the 70s.Great reflection.
FIRST PRINCIPLES
Covey calls these ‘natural laws’ of human behaviour ‘principles’ and believes they are part of the human condition and human consciousness. In a nutshell, they are the principle of fairness, of integrity and honesty, of human dignity; the principle of service to others, the striving for excellence and the principle of potential; that we can grow and develop more and more talents. Potential is highly related to the principle of growth- the process of releasing potential and continuously developing it.
Covey states that these principles or guidelines for human conduct have been proven to have enduring, permanent value and are fundamental and self-evident. Now, in these cynical times, it would be easy to dismiss these ideas as ‘ sentimental goo’. Our culture encourages us to get ahead at any cost and grab what we can while we can without much concern for fundamental values. However, look at it this way. Consider the absurdity of attempting to live an effective, meaningful life based on their opposites. I doubt that anyone would seriously consider unfairness, deceit, baseness, uselessness, mediocrity, or degeneration to be a solid foundation for lasting personal happiness and success. And they certainly would not be a solid foundation for a successful business.
Stephen R. Covey believes that there are certain “natural laws that are woven into the fabric of every civilised society throughout history and comprise the roots of every family and institution that has endured and prospered.” The principles he refers to are not esoteric, mysterious, or religious. However, these principles are part of every enduring religious tradition, as well as enduring social philosophies and ethical systems throughout the history of human civilization
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Ha! I’m an old woman but I always carry a knife when I go out. But the locking mechanism broke on my favorite knife!!
Follow @Smillew course and you may well succeed.