25 Years Ago Today...

Twenty-five years ago today, I suffered a heart attack at the age of 21! On the morning of March 31, 1986
I woke up with chest pains and it felt like an elephant was standing on my chest! I was an EMT with my local volunteer fire company at the time. I knew I was having a heart attack, but why at such a young age? I was diagnosed with spasm of the coronary artery. My condition has been controlled by medication and I don't have any limitations.
I have been blessed in so many ways in the last 25 years. I have an awesome wife and wonderful kids, great friends and I have made Jesus the Lord of my life. Life is precious. We never know what tomorrow holds for us, so make sure you take time to smell the roses and live each day to the fullest!

Back In The Day

I started model building by repainting Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars when their paint started coming off or I would take them apart and I restored or modify them. I also had 1/25 scale die-cast cars and I added more details to them to make them look more realistic. I remember years ago going to the pharmacy in Jacksonville with my grandparents to pick-up their prescriptions. My grandfather always picked up Captain Black pipe tobacco. Grand mom picked up candy and other items for my sister and I. I would always head to the small selection of model cars and modeling supplies in the toy aisle. If I was good I usually got to pick out a model car. Here was one of the last models I purchased at the pharmacy.

There were some great little hobby shops that were around back then. Yorktowne Hobby Shop in Cockeysville. They are still in business today. Yorktowne was always one of my favorites. There were others who are no longer around like Lyold's in Towson, Md. and Family Hobbies in Arbutus. They always had a great selection of model and supplies. They continue to be missed by many modeler's today. Those were the days before we had Wal-Marts. Those were the days before Wal-Mart put many of the family owned hobby shops out of business! Then to add insult to injury for my fellow modelers Wal-Mart stopped carrying models all together a few years ago. Time keeps moving forward and all that is left are the memories of these wonderful hobby shops and the great friendships that were started and the good times we had back then.

It all Started with a Corvette!

When I was a kid, my Uncle Jim had a blue book shelf in the corner of his bedroom and on the top shelf was a row of model cars. In fact they were all Chevrolet Corvettes. He had a model for every year through the 50's and 60's. I was amazed at how beautiful they were. I would go up to his room and stare at them everyday. I admired the details of each model and how well my uncle had put them together. This may also be the first time I can remember giving into temptation.  I had been told not to touch the Corvettes by my uncle. One day it was too much handle and I picked up one of his models. It was a '57 Corvette and I started playing with it. Before I knew it, parts started falling off of it and then the front wheel fell off! Oh no, I had done it now. I placed it back on the shelf hoping my uncle wouldn't notice, but I knew he would and that I was going to be in big trouble! The lesson learned that day was don't touch what isn't yours. My uncle was mad at me. I receive two spankings that day one from my grandmother and other from my dad! I guess that's what made that day so memorable. It's funny when you look back and see how the events of one day can change your life forever. That day was the moment I decided I wanted to build model cars!

My First Memory of Model Building

I remember my father sitting at a card table that he set up in the living room. I said, what are you doing daddy? He replied, that he was going to build a model ship. I was fascinated at the concept, even though I had no idea what a model was at the time. I gazed in wonder as he open the box to reveal all the parts. I was amazed as he started gluing the ship's hull together. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen! Everything was going along just fine and the model ship was coming to life before my very eyes. I really enjoyed talking to my father as he worked on this model. Then things took a turn for the worst as he attempted to attach the rigging. He became frustrated, and then mad and then he got up and left the table. When he returned he seemed ready to try it again. After a couple minutes his frustration returned. The next thing I know he was cussing at that model ship and then he threw it in the trash can and that was the end of that!
To this day, I have never built a model ship! Unfortunately for my father, he picked a kit that was too hard for him and sadly, he never built another model again. The lesson I learned from that day was to start out with an easy model and work you way up to the harder kits as your skills improve. When you do that you will build confidence to try harder kits and you will fall in love with the hobby!