Good times, bad times.

[Skye]

Memorable quotes:

When asked why not to do something a particular way: “Because that’s how an a**hole would do it.”

“Lots of things can be an accelerator. Cigarette smoke…”

Well, I started at the IAP with a rant about the PMG. Immediately people were accusing me of being Eagle and posting under another name. I didn’t know what the heck people were talking about, I had no idea who Eagle was but that thread had him hot on my heels shortly after it was posted.

After a few phone calls I visited him and his family at his house, watched him turn some antler in his shop. Saw a handful of his pens first hand, gave him a few shells and walked away with one of his .308 shells. I was a little too new into turning to really learn anything from him as pretty much everything he said was over my head. I did learn that he was a creative guy, he was self taught, had a workshop I wasn’t allowed to talk about, smoked like a chimney, had a good sense of humor and an innate ability to piss people off.  I drove away knowing I had met an odd bird, a real old school guy, not the kind you’re likely to come across often. His gruff exterior and sometimes persona was a real contrast to his heart and hands.

He was a tough pill to swallow as often as he was a ray of sunshine. I think I hung up with him happy, pissed, or confused an almost equal amount of times. Never bothered me too much because I know that’s just the way it is sometimes. People don’t agree, people get sore at each other, people agree, people get along. To steer everything in one direction all the time takes truth out of a conversation, even at the cost of feeling peachy at the end of it. At the IAP Bubbasville meeting I went to, his name was brought up a few times because his talents makes his mention a given. Of course his personality also came into the discussion and someone asked me directly “What is it with him?” and I just told them that it’s the way he is, he’s not going to pull any punches, he’ll just tell it like it is. I always liked that, I do the same thing myself.

When I heard about his passing I was saddened. I was pissed off. I was just torn. Last time I talked to him of the happy/pissed/confused calls it was one of the worst of the three. After that he didn’t call again and I wasn’t going to call him. That was maybe 6 months ago, shortly after I fell off the penturning radar. Naturally, when I heard the news it was painful because had I known, I would have called him. I guess that’s the main thing I learned, try not to walk away from anyone angry. You never know if you’ll get a chance to rectify a relationship. While I don’t think its right to change who you are, it’s important to choose your words carefully.

In the end, I miss the guy. I wish I had visited more often, wish I had called more, the usually regrets when someone is taken so suddenly. It would be great to get another call, regardless which of the three.

All the things I never said, big guy.

[admin]

Thanks for sharing the story, Skye.  I have it on good authority he knows your thoughts.

[Daniel]

Thanks for the story, I always saw Eagle as a person that was going to be true to himself and accept the consequences. But it was that determination for truth and honesty that made me see him as special. I always watched what he did for the results, and did not get hung up on the method. Eagle knew well that his stance would cause conflict, and chose it anyway. I've been known to be like that at times. To me Eagle was always "Real". And real seldom comes wrapped up in perfect. His results where seldom vague. whether it was ticking people off, Giving of his talent and knowledge, or creating amazing wood blanks, Eagle was dramatic and obviously different. I have always thought the world needs more Eagles, It would help us all stop trying to look right, and start doing it right.

[tlh14843]

First, I would like to say thank you for sharing your story. As his daughter I know first hand that Eagle was a VERY strong willed, strong minded and outspoken man! But that is what made him special to each and every person that had the chance of and pleasure of meeting him. He spoke his mind and as you well know he held nothing  back. Living so far away from he and my mom for the last almost 5 years makes these stories a little more special to me. Thank you for sharing and I agree with Lou. He knows your thoughts!!!

Tonya

[dehawkes]

I have to agree with my sister . These stories are great to hear after not being home for so long. It has been 10 ears since my last visit to my mothers and eagles home in SC. To hear how he wasnt just outspoken to just us kids is kinda funny ,he was a very special man and please keep the stories comming .Thanks

[Skye]

Thanks ladies. I met one of you, I want to say it was Tonya, I want to say I remember long black hair?

Yeah, it was kind of a short visit. Had I known it was going to be the last one I would have stayed longer. It's one of those things you never know, so make sure you pack in all the memories every day. It's really a sad, yet amazing thing if you can grasp and apply it; We all have loved ones we would pay everything we have just to have 5 more minutes with them. But, every day we see people and we always behave like there's a guaranteed tomorrow. If nothing else, he's given us a gift of seeing how important it is to seize the moment.

Make sure you keep up with that conductor's cap if he still had it. Every time I spoke to him on the phone I pictured it perched on his head, even though it probably wasn't.

[lynn p]

Skye,

The daughter you met was Pauline.  She is the one with the long dark hairand the one with the new baby named Charlie.  As for the railroad hats I still have every one he had.  Some are in pretty rough shape, but I have kept them anyway.

[tlh14843]

Skye,

I can assure you that you are correct in "picturing" the railroad hat on his head everytime you spoke with him. He rarely took them off!!! ha ha ha

Tonya