11/09/2017
I thought I would share a story today. One that gives a little background and helped really shape me into the person I am today. When I was around 8 years old or so my grandparents were visiting, and we took them to the Renaissance Festival. The only thing I wanted was a wooden play sword. Almost all the children had one, and I was very keen to point out the people selling such wooden swords to my parents. I was frustrated with them not buying me a wooden sword. I was very frustrated with my grandparents too. They were wealthy, and aren't grandparents supposed to spoil their grandchildren. Easy to do, look a wooden sword! However, they continued to tell me no. My grandfather told me that we could make one ourselves. I figured this was some ploy to shut me up and he'd forget the moment we got home. Not true though. The next day he sketched out a wooden sword that I liked on a scrap piece of wood in the garage. He cut it out with a jigsaw and he even painted the blade a silver to look like a real blade. The ones at the Renaissance Festival were just plain wood. My favorite color at the time was purple so he painted the hilt purple and wrapped the handle in duct tape to give it a grip. Wow, this sword was awesome! Totally better then the simple plain unoriginal swords at the festival. I loved it and played with it often. More importantly it sparked something inside of me. A realization that I could do things myself. Not only do it myself for cheaper, but better, custom, and completely unique. From that moment on I've always like to build things. Work with my hands and try to create unique one of a kind things. That day altered my life's course in such a radical way, and is something that still resonates inside me today. That you Richard Rust for that invaluable lesson and an awesome sword.