Dive-Knife

When I was exiting the water after kayaking there at the Park Service launch in Jenner, CA, a boy (with his brother and a dog in a kayak on the launch) waiting for dad immediately spotted the dive knife on my leg and asked, What's the knife for?

His dad immediately answered, For whatever is necessary.

I was also answering with Just in case of fishing line in the water, you know, and whatever's necessary (which is the truth: mostly the fishing line phobia).

Still, I was struck by how the boy had noticed the knife so quickly.
Cutting to the chase, as it were.

And, years from now, will that boy be thinking it will be cool to be a diver guy with a knife on his leg?


P.S.  I think of this scene and I think of my Uncle Bob in Guam in the 1970s sending my family Cousteau books about diving and sharks (books I still have) and I think of the speargun Dad had on the wall of the garage, and I certainly relate to that boy on Saturday in Jenner waiting in a kayak with his brother and his dog . . . .


P.P,S.  My kayak-pal JP writes: "For context, if I remember right, the lad asked first if we'd been fishing.  You said no.   Then, after a beat, he asked what's the knife for."

To which I say, Good catch, JP.

Dumas' The Three Musketeers (novel and films)

My favorite version--after reading Alexandre Dumas' classic novel The Three Musketeers--to watch: Richard Lester's version (scripted by the author of the Flashman novels!)--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-LfUtHnEBY

But then you'll also need to watch Richard Lester's sequel (though part of the original French novel):
The Four Musketeers--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMhwGUGNuxI

In the Footsteps of the Legions

On Hadrian's Wall.
I'd been looking forward to this moment for almost my whole life.

As a boy, in my daydreams, I would walk that wall as a Roman, guarding the border, guarding the Empire . . .
Or, also as that boy, daydreaming, I'd climb and cross that wall as a Celt or Pict, seeking to drive away the invaders . . . .

Throckmorton's "The Lost Ships"

Boyhood reading revisited.

TBT: Boyhood / Summer

Happy July 4th, 1966?

Here's an old family photo. On the back, you can read "July 4th, The Ducks."

I'm thinking this would be 1966, 1967, or possibly 1965. I'm that buzzhead boy in the front in the Buster Brown shirt (loved that shirt), and I look like a first grader, maybe. I'm standing all goofy. I'm thinking that I'm doing that thing with my feet because of the way I'm having to hold my arms behind my back and pose. (The energy comes out somewhere, somehow; nothing much has changed, though I look a lot older.)

We were patriotic children, so posing with the flag would have made perfect sense. It's funny to see the slice of porch and the street; I lived there for almost 20 years or so and still dream about that house every once in a while.

And, while the sun is (as usual for a family photo) in our faces, we look pretty happy here. That's worth appreciating.

Happy 4th to you too.

(When I consider that caption, I wonder if Uncle Bob took the shot.)

True Friendship

A photo of a photo from the late 1970's: I'm telling some tale, with gestures, while Keith listens skeptically, waiting his turn for a counter-tale. Keith and I were pretty inseparable for years and years. Another friend, John, documented the standard exchange at the Scandia Miniature Golf site near Fairfield, CA.

I miss those guys (my young-self included).

I miss you, Keith.

RIP.