My pleasure. I appreciate your dedicated responses.
Philip Dowse was a boss of mine one time during my career but it wasn't for a few years after we met. There's a little more to this story actually, I'm glad you asked.
In our trade, we have journeyman and apprentices, right? A lot of us journeyman went on to be foreman, engineers, inspectors, etc. When I met Philly, he was my journeyman and I was his apprentice, I was his responsibility. Man he tuned me up nice. Very first time I met him went like this:
Our foreman introduced us and he said "this is Jim S's nephew, take care of him." Philly said "fuck Jim S. and anyone who knows him!" Man I was so intimidated like "wtf?!" Come to find out he and my uncle went through the Air Force together and the first time he met me was in my mothers arms in diapers about 20 years earlier—I didn't know that. Anywho.. he was just playing and just as excited to tune me up as I was to get tuned up.
Curtis, he went by CW. Dude was a giant. 6-6 about 250, President and Enforcer of his motorcycle club. You name it, pony tail down to his waste, "biker." One of the most instrumental pieces of my life. I haven't spoken to his family for about a month, thank you, I'm going to change that today. He was young bro, cancer for him at 55—gone!
And my grandfather, yes'ir. The reality is, I wouldn't have any of these stories if it wasn't for him. 👍🏿
Great man, thanks for filling in some blanks...I was going to say Phillying in some blanks as a Philly-reference but decided against it as it might be seen as a bad dad-style joke...So I didn't mention it. 😂
I had a mate whose dad was Sergeant at Arms for one of the most feared motorcycle groups here (we have a pretty bad organised crime situation with those people) and he was not one to trifle with. Also...You may not know this but back two years I served on a jury for a murder trial where one had bludgeoned another's head into pulp with a huge spanner for some reason or other. Wasn't pleasant but the right result occurred. I don't mix in those circles though, despite riding bikes.
Sergeant of Arms, I know those titles. I was never into'em either Galen. CW taught me how to build, was the President, I wasn't interested, I just rode with them and went home after. Both my uncles, I never told you this, they're both gone now but they were both Angels out of San Diego, Ca. Again, I'd just go to a party here and there, I never needed a patch to ride.
What's is a "spanner?"
Phillying.. you know I got so many nicknames for that man and I never put Philly and ing together. He just got another nickname. 👍🏿 I got a buncha ideas already.
Ring spanner. Wrench. The one used was about half as long as a baseball bat, and heavy. I hefted it in the jury room, the very one used. Bagged of course.
Spanner wrench, I'm with you now sir. Dang. I'm glad I never had to do anything like that—serve on a jury. Especially that kinda case
Does it mess with you? How long ago again? Sorry if you already told me.
It does a bit, it's all pretty graphic and all, quite draining emotionally also. They offer counseling after it's done but I was all good; I've seen enough in my life not to be affected.