Pickles by Brian Crane for July 30, 2021

I still have a little hair left Earl. Not much just a little.

My theory is that men are born with pocket knives.

I got the pocketknife taken care of most times, but not the handkerchief nor the comb.

Leave the pocketknife home when you go to the airport.

21 years ago, you could take the pocket knife to the airport.

What, no firearms?

In school one day, a teacher asked me for my pocketknife because he knew I would have one.

When I went to school, most kids had a pocket knife and no one gave it a second thought….That’s how much the world has changed.

Not so much comb anymore? But he does have some hair in the back and on the sides and a pretty substantial mustache.

Most of us oldsters carry more out of date stuff than that in our thinking. The I wonder whatever happened to. . . or the You know, you can’t find . . . in the stores anymore stage of life. Reality sometimes ain’t all that great.

Don’t forget to tell him about pocket lint.

My Dad always had a “jack knife”.

Earl I would add a pen to your list of things to carry ;-)

Nowadays I carry a map, calculator, compass, flashlight, spirit level, barometer, magnetometer, bank card, clock, and music player.

So, Earl, are you going to tell him the three rules of being a man over 50?

Phaser, communicator, tricorder. I’m all set.

He will never part with the comb.

I carried a Leatherman on my waste for years!

I went to jury duty and they confiscated mine! I did get it back later. Never gave it a thought. I make sure it is in my checked luggage when I travel.

All I need is my towel.

Are you kidding me ?

Money is also nice. Trust me on this.

Must be in the jeans…

I do the same. I barely have enough hair for a comb but never need it as it is cut short. My wife says “eww gross” when it comes to handkerchiefs but always seems to need to borrow mine. I carry two in case I need to use one, I have a clean spare. Pocket knives have always been a given all my life as they were for my father and grandfather before me. I do have to be careful where to carry it as so many places now have metal scanners and bans on “weapons”. It’s a tool not a weapon, the only person I have ever cut is myself and that has been very rare.

Dad once sent me a birthday card. “As you grow older, you’ll find there are things you have to give up. Like combs.”

Earl, you gotta comb out the mustache, from time to time..right?

Right pocket; keys, coins, car fob and tissue, left packet; magnifying glass, measuring tape and pocket knife. I stopped carrying a comb decades ago when my lack of hair showed up.

T’was the way of it in my early years. Dad had several pocket knives, each with a different side piece – bone, wood, ebon, pearl, and metal. He taught me games and best uses but also to be cautious. He also taught me how to hone the blades and to keep the channels clear of rust. Lots of mumblety-peg games in that collection.

And a dime to make an emergency call on a pay phone. In a booth on a corner. If you can’t fix the problem with a triangular bandage.

As far as the comb goes, like it is said “Grass does not grow on a Busy Street” but then an empty barn does not need a roof!

Rule #9 – Never go aywhere without a knife.

Always in my pockets: Billfold, comb, handkerchief, pen knife, 3-foot tape measure, ballpoint pen, and a flip phone. Any coins go into the jar on the dresser every night. Anybody else read the “Pluggers” comic strip?

Remember to wash the handkerchief occasionally. :)

I’ll allow for tissues for nasal matters and the handkerchief for wiping brow matters. But a handkerchief for nasal clearance should never be a thing. Yuck!

Over 40% of the male population carry knives.

The other essential item is a pen.

You can comb the “stach”.

My dad always carried those three things—and used them. I used to carry a jackknife, but stopped for some reason. Now I have an excuse to go buy one. They are handy, for sure.

I’d feel nekkid widout my Leatherman mini!

Wallet, comb, knife. Is now Wallet, comb, pocket knife, belt knife, nail clipper, keys, reading glasses, driving glasses, a couple of small tools and phone. Oh and sometimes mask as well.

I carried a Buck folding belt knife from the time I was in HS until I retired in 1998. Very useful tool. But I believe now illegal in most states.

in grade school all the boys carried pocket knives, we would play mumbley peg during recess.

Pocket knife, wallet, keys, cell phone and wrist watch. I may have a shirt and pants on – but I am naked without those in the world.

Earl, use the comb to get crumbs out of your moustache!

Sad…..

In time most men go bald?

Dad’s handkerchief stopped many a bloody nose in its day. I guess today’s kids don’t do anything that would result in a bloody nose.

You might need to help someone with a hair malfunction.

Where’s Roscoe? : )

use it for your mustache!

Can’t really carry pocket knives to most places anymore.

Memories of Gene Wolfe.

Four things, including Chapstick, or Carmex.

Earl…you still have hair and a mustache.

I was reminded today that another essential item is a safety pin.   I keep two pinned to the left front pocket of my broadfalls, where they go un-noticed until wanted.

And I have several attached to each of my two wallets.   (A large one for cycling, a small one for walking or driving.)

During a first-aid class, a paramedic showed me his medical kit: a pocket-size pair of bandage scissors with a large safety pin attached to one handle.   My uses for pins have all been less interesting than his.

Change hair comb to a mustache comb and all of them would still be useful.