Thanks Shawn, very well said! The really valuable gifts are of relationship and love.

It wasn't an axe, but I once raise a mini-sledge in a fit of anger and rage against a worn down, poorly constructed, very ugly particle board bunkbed set.........was that so wrong??

: I wanted to post this post yesterday, but I couldn't get my modem to connect.

: Merry Christmas to all.

: Thank you all for the gifts we have given each other. Gifts of information,
: gifts of encouragement, gifts of tools and materials, gifts of
: inspiration, gifts of setting new and higher standards for all to envy or
: reach for, gifts of concern and caring when a community member risks his
: own life to rescue others in the Trade Center rubble, gifts of concern
: when my kid was premature (she's doing wonderfully now--Thanks!), the gift
: of this great forum without which this community wouldn't exist.

: The gift of friendship--those we've known for years, but only see once a
: year; those we know by name and personality only, but finally get to meet
: in person at a Rendezvous; and those we still don't know in person, but
: we'd loan our brand new boat to if they would come visit us to go
: paddling. Nick has been generous enough to give us this opportunity to
: meet; you've all been as genuine in person as you are on the blue screen.
: Thank you. The first time I met someone in real life--Pete Rudie almost 4
: years ago--we joked that it was good that neither of us were an axe
: murderer. I've now met dozens of you--of us--and not one person has shown
: the remotest interest in axes. Block planes, jack planes, drawknifes,
: spokeshaves, crooked knives, Japanese saws, rasps, ROS'es, power planers,
: routers, table saws, jigsaws....but not one ever raised in anger or
: aggression. Except against cedar and redwood.

: The reason for this season is the gift of a person who lived many years ago,
: and lots of people still strive to live in his image. I cherish this
: season for the gifts of people. Not gifts from people, but simply for
: people being who they are, and for their willingness to share of
: themselves.

: Bless you all and Merry Christmas,

: Shawn