A cowboy hat isn't a real cowboy hat 'til you've
watered your horse out of it - or at least
topped off the radiator.

A pickup truck isn't a real pickup truck 'til
it's carried a load of "compost" or drain rock.

A tool isn't a tool 'til it's been used well
though not abused.

And a rose ain't a rose 'til the aphids
arrive. (ironic that the big really
pretty ones hardly have a smell, if
at all - but the little tea roses sure do)

I've got a G.N.T. Gordon ebony and brass
spoke shave that, though it works
extremely well, is seldom used because
it looks so nice and works so well.

Then there are the tools that look
really nice but seem too scary to
try - just yet - an inch and a half
oval skew with the BIG, LONG
handle that screams - There's
a reason this handle is this size!
A long fingernail grind that just
seems to be made to catch big
time if not used exactly right.

The first scratch analogy is
a very good one.

charlie b