WOW! What a thread!!!! I find myself again a part of another ELITE group of folks! Let me see if I can sum it all up for me... it will take a minute. I was booted from the Marines in 87' after I blew out my right knee in a training accident, which led to the beginning of my back and hip problems, unbeknowst to me, the compensating for the knee injury has caused several problems in my lower back and right hip, I declined hip replacement as I am too young to have it done just yet, I would end up having to have another one if I live long enough and that must be avoided! Until it is absolutely necessary! That
means can not move for me! Fast forward to September 2001, I had to have Brain surgery, which I could have went on S S I back then. In 2003 or 04', (not sure bout that) I went blind in my right eye, no apparent reason, just happened. Then 2010 I had a Heart Attack! That is the high points of my health issues, for me knife making is my escape. I can go to the shop and be in enormous pain all the way to the door, but once I get in there it's like...well it's hard for me to describe, kind of like my 'pain free zone',if you will. Once I get in there and get focused on the task at hand, it's like nothing else in the world! I get lost in what I'm doing and in doing so, so does the pain! With all I've been through my biggest problem is my back and neck, I have degenerative Disk Disease, with multiple bone spurs through out my back and neck, getting to the shop is the hard part! But once I am in there, all is right with the world! No matter how frustrating the task I am attempting to do, it is all worthwhile! Because while I am in the shop I feel NO PAIN!!! Well...., sorta. I have several things I have to be very careful doing, if I don't, I usually end up in bed with ice and a heating pad for a few days!
I too have avoided the sympathy stuff, it's useless. I understand that it is ONLY because we are surrounded by GREAT PEOPLE ON THE FORUM! And it is natural for compassionate folks to feel compassion to other knife brothers, It always felt like it wasn't necessary to tell all. BUT! Now I see that it can be a source of inspiration to others as well as myself, so THANKS. DALLAS!!!! As for folks starting out with knife making that have limitations, the samenpassion that drives us to keep striving forbthe perfect blade is the same passion that ALLOWS us to work through the pain, if you all can figure out a way to make the needed adjustments to your work area, knife making will not only help you pass the time and keep you out of trouble, it will also provide you with so much more....the intangible stuff that can only be acquired through personal perseverance!! Tue feeling you get when you finish a blade that is not only beautiful but also highly functional, it is that feeling that drives me to make another one that is not only better but more difficult, I have more to share on this but typing this by phone is going to hazardous to my phones health if I don't stop now! I'll add more later, Rex