Normally, I enjoy being present when I give a carving to someone. This time, I felt the story behind carving "Chesty" (see the previous Blog post) and giving him to my brother along with all the "hoopla" over sending and opening the box was much more fun.
They followed each direction as ordered! (What would you expect from a retired Military person who respects and honors his Service experience.) I would have enjoyed seeing their first reaction upon unwrapping "Chesty."
All you woodcarvers (or anyone who makes any craft/art) out there know and appreciate the time and creativity you put into each piece. However, unless the recipient has watched the progress of a carving he/she never fully realizes what goes into a one of a kind woodcarving. Thanks to computers, I enjoy personalizing each piece to the fullest. Each of my carvings are wrapped and placed in a small gift bag that includes a CD and my business card. I produce a Power Point Program on the CD that includes the progress of the piece and is set to music or a song that "fits" the piece and the recipient. "Chesty's" PPP song was "Some Gave All" sung by Billy Ray Cirus. As soon as I heard "Some Gave All" I knew that was it! The song itself can send that "chill" up the back of your neck. Connecting the song to "Chesty" was the "frosting on the cake."
Bob called me and we spoke for some time about the "story" of Chesty and just where will he be placed.
That was easy......
"Chesty" is center stage between the Marine and Army statuettes in a place of honor in Bob's "War Room."
Bob's first (and most life altering experiences for a guy just out of high school) was the U.S. Marine Corps. In the late '50's the "Corps" sent Bob to Okinawa. After his hitch in the "Corps" Bob just never seemed to be the 9-5 kinda guy. He enlisted in the Air Force. For some reason Bob left the AF and went to work. Our Dad did 29 years in the National Guard and I think that had something to do with Bob enlisting in the Army National
Guard. His Company was deployed to Desert Storm. After a few more years, due to his age he was "told" it's time to retire!
Throughout all his time in the Military Bob amassed a "gazillion war stories," and I think he can recall every single one of them!
Bob with "Chesty."
The photo above and to the left is our Dad. The photo above and to the right is also our Dad!
In his twentiess, our Dad was somewhat of a local celebrity. As the "Whispering Ranger" Dad volunteered on local radio station WESX in Salem, MA
Currently, Bob himself is now somewhat of a celebrity. Bob was a drummer and early on made a huge connection with Jazz. He gave up drumming but his love of Jazz is paying back. He's on a local radio show as a host on a Marshfield, MA radio station, WATD. http://959watd.com/ talking and playing Jazz to his listeners.
(Bob loves to tell the story of where the radio station is located... WATD stands for "We're At The Dump!")
If you're a night owl you can catch Bob (on the web) every other Sunday morning midnight to five-thirty a.m.
I know "Chesty" is well appreciated and found an outstanding home!
Oh, in retirement Bob needed something to do to. Now, where would a guy who likes being around "everything military" just love to work?
Bob is the Armourer for the Hingham, MA National Guard..... !
Just for the record, I got the hair in the family!
