[TheForge] ABANA and George Dixon

[Bob Rackers]

I'm taking a short break from watching tapes of George Dixon when he
demonstrated at the Quad State Roundup (Troy, Ohio) a few years ago.
My first Quad State was the following year, so I didn't have the opportunity to
watch his demonstration.

So I'm sitting here watching, and it dawns on me that in the last few hours,
George has taken my blacksmithing has just been taken to a completely new
level.
The amount of understanding of the tools and how the metal reacts to the tools
George possesses is probably only matched by how well he explains everything
he's doing. I've also just realized watching these tapes that George Dixon
epitomizes the very reason ABANA was ever created.
I can honestly say without reservation that I'm not the same person I was just
prior to watching these tapes.
So I find it ironic when I just realized that, from my perspective, George
Dixon is not ABANA.

He just appears to be everything good about ABANA, and I can understand why
these negative side issues with the organization are so important to him.
I gather it's because they detract so much from something George probably holds
more dear than anyone else, member or not.
Which explains why (and how) he can tolerate the continual slings and arrows
heading his way.

So if someone is of the mind to ask George to sit down and be quiet, consider
for a moment that if you love ABANA for the reasons it was originally formed,
then George Dixon is probably the best friend the real ABANA has got. I gather,
however, that's a big "if" for a lot of people.

It's funny, in a sad way, how so often the more one really cares about
something, the more sh_t they have to tolerate from those who SAY they care,
but don't (or don't as much).
Or they do care, but only to the point when it starts to get a little
uncomfortable. At that point most people bail.
Usually what happens is a single person, or at most a very select few, can
handle the heat, and only for the simple reason that their passion leaves them
no choice.
People have been asking me all week, with temperatures and humidities in the
90's, how I can stand being next to a hot fire.
Frankly, it's pretty easy. My passion for blacksmithing overwhelms any
discomfort I may have to tolerate. It isn't really a choice for me.
I can tell you (from my own personal experiences) that the day George stops
asking pertinent questions is the day George no longer cares about ABANA
whatsoever.
ABANA won't be better off without George Dixon. ABANA would be better off if it
were full of George Dixons.

So I have no problem sticking my neck out and saying "Thanks, George, for what
you've just done for me and my blacksmithing."
George has already done more for me in these past few hours than I could ever
hope to get from ABANA in a lifetime.

The real irony is the fact that should I ever decide to join ABANA, it will be
BECAUSE of George Dixon (and those cut from the same cloth), and not in spite
of him.

Thanks, George. You rock.

Bob