[TheForge] anyone know of a disabled person wanting to take up blacksmithing? OT:
peter fels
artgawk at thegrid.net
Sun Apr 10 13:23:32 EDT 2011
He sounds perfect Terry!
On Apr 10, 2011, at 6:40 AM, Bruce Freeman wrote:
> Ah! You're in NJ. You're not very close to where we do most of our
> activities, but you might benefit a LOT by coming to our meets:
>
> http://njba.abana-chapter.com/
>
> I believe we have a meeting scheduled for Tuckerton Seaport, which is
> across the state from you. We will also likely have a few meets at
> Historic Cold Spring Village, near Cape May. We have meets roughly
> monthly at various places around the state, and WEEKLY open forge
> meetings near Freehold (Monmouth Co.). You can see the latest
> newsletter and the current schedule of events (subject to additions at
> any time).
>
> If you are after equipment or instruction, there is no better way to
> start than by coming out for meets like these. At some point you
> might want to take classes or buy over ebay, but for starters, the
> local resources are the best.
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:32 AM, Shawn Bennett
> <shawn.bennett09 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Good morning gentlemen,
>>
>> I've been part of the "team" for a few months now because of my interest in
>> smithing. I've got a very basic backyard set-up in the backyard of my home
>> with a propane 2 burner forge, rr track anvil, a few hammers and a few tongs
>> that I pieced together in a fenced in concrete dog run in the backyard.
>> I've been interested in blacksmithing for quite a few years but have never
>> had the finances to really get started. I've bought many of the books and
>> have spent quite a few days bothering the blacksmith display at the
>> Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.
>>
>> I'm a 35 year old disabled Army veteran with 8 years of active service who
>> was honorably & medically discharged with a 40% disabiltiy. I broke my
>> back, the first time, in Kosovo in 2001.
>>
>> My convoy was re-routed due to mines on the original route after spending a
>> few hours on a medcap (we provided basic medical care for the village we
>> visited that day. Kinda like a public relations trip) north of Pristina,
>> Kosovo. The trip was wonderful. The local village was primarily Serbian
>> and they welcomed us with open arms. My unit was guarding the doctors we
>> brought to give them some basic medical care. We brought candy for the
>> kids, school supplies for the K through Highschool school that took care of
>> the entire populous of the village and the neighboring village as well. Due
>> to my rank and my friendship with the Captain, I was invited into the
>> village elders home to have tea and cakes with his family. We were so well
>> received and welcomed he (the elder was a man of approximately 60 years old)
>> allowed his only daughter to serve us and sit at the table while we drank.
>> It was explained to us that that was a very high honor. When finished we
>> took our 8 vehicle convoy through a dried out riverbed in a valley along the
>> new route. Again, thanks to the Capt. I was in the lead vehicle. Our was
>> an APC (Armored Personel Carrier - think of it as a small tank with no guns
>> but a M-60 mounted to the roof) the only vehicle in the convoy with a tall
>> antenna. We were attacked at the center of the basin. Mortars. We lost
>> the second and last vehicles in the first volley and my APC was damaged.
>> The antenna was destroyed. I exited through the top hatch and re-installed
>> the spare antenna to radio air support. The second volley followed just as
>> I finished. It hit the cliff wall to my left. The concussion blew me off
>> the top of the track about 20 feet down to the riverbed floor. I woke up 2
>> days later in Camp Bondsteel Kosovo to find that we lost 8 men but we got
>> out. I also didn't have the use of anything below my navel. I was told I'd
>> never have the use of my lower extremities again, even the fun parts. 4
>> months later my toes started to itch and I was able to move them limitedly.
>> 6 months after that I was walking again though a lot of effort and
>> re-training. I've now regained most of my mobility, as much as I can have
>> with 2 12" titanium rods, 12 screws and a 3"x4" plate keeping my spine
>> together.
>>
>> Due to a recent divorce, I've had to take a temporary break in my hobby.
>> Amazing how much the courts in NJ make you pay for "Spousal Support" to a
>> woman who hasn't had employment for over a decade. I'm currently selling my
>> home in Tabernacle, New Jersey to downsize into a much smaller one, but I
>> found a house with a beautiful detached garage in Marlton, New Jersey. I
>> imagine that within the next 6 months the garage will be were I spend most
>> of my time anyway. The new home is much more affordable, thankfully, and
>> also closer to my work. I'm an apprentice engineering technician for Public
>> Service Electric and Gas in Moorestown, New Jersey and have worked there for
>> the last 3 years.
>>
>> I'm telling you all this because I would be honored to have the opportunity
>> to learn. I hate to sound like I'm begging but I would absolutely love to
>> speak with you more about your offer. I can't pay much, but I'd be happy to
>> try and if you aren't interested in making any money I'd be happy to donate
>> to a charity of your choice.
>>
>> If you'd like to speak with me, my name is Shawn Bennett and my telephone
>> number is 609-353-8047.
>>
>> Lastly. Are you really giving up the land? I've been shot, stabbed, blown
>> up twice, been to war and even survived a divorce where my ex-wife decided
>> she wanted to have an affair with my father. Even though I've lived through
>> more than most, I'm absolutely terrified of the ocean. I'm utterly
>> convinced that I'm damn near indestructible on land, but in the water... *Well
>> I'm sure something will eat me.*
>>
>> Thank you again for your patience and I hope that I'm not sounding as if I'm
>> bragging, but I felt that this is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up and
>> I wanted to give you as much information about myself that I could. I hope
>> to hear from you soon.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Shawn Bennett
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 8:53 AM, <dann at wctatel.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Peter's thought was was first thought as well.
>>>
>>> Terry, what after burning your bridges, you discover that your dream of
>>> spending your last years at sea, was better than the reality.
>>>
>>> I live in Winnebago County, Iowa ... where the primary employer driving
>>> the local economy is manufacture of Winnebago Motor Homes.
>>>
>>> I always wondered how so many people could afford to put a couple hundred
>>> thousand dollars into a big new camper on wheels, and then pay nightly
>>> camping fees for where-ever they parked them.
>>>
>>> So I asked. Turns out, apparently the "average" buyer sells the
>>> residence/ fixed home and uses that money to bank roll the purchase of the
>>> Winnebago. They down size everything to what he/she can take in their
>>> Winnebago. Many use a mail drop with a South Dakota address for their
>>> permanent address... and away they go.
>>>
>>> After playing at being a gypsy for a while, many end up living in a condo
>>> in some Southern state. Used motor-home sale value / salvage value of the
>>> Motor Home falls about like you would expect in a used luxury car. Craigs
>>> List anyone?
>>>
>>> Dann
>>>
>>>
>>> Peter Wrote:
>>>> Say Terry;
>>>> What happens if you tire of traveling after a while?
>>>> It's a romantic notion viewed from afar.
>>>> But as for myself...i'm an impatient spectator.
>>>> I find i go pretty nuts if i travel for a few months.
>>>> Think before you burn bridges.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Bruce
> NJ
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