I’ve always been thankful I have interesting hobbies — artifact hunting, metal detecting and generally meandering about the countryside.
The cherry on the top is companionship.
For the last three years, fellow enthusiast Robbie Baker and I have had the pleasure of discovering finds together.
Removed by a generation, I’m flattered he enjoys my company.
Late Tuesday afternoon we set out looking for Indian artifacts, an activity that has Robbie in its grasp. He found three nice points during the outing and I was about as excited as Robbie, even though I struck out.
Walking across a field strewn with clods, something caught the corner of my eye, but when I turned, my left foot rolled over a bit and I fell like a tree toppled by high wind. Robbie saw me go down and ran over. I was fine, but it was a comfort to know if I hadn’t been that help would have been on the way.
I don’t particularly like the catchphrase, “I’ve got your back,” but sometimes it’s nice to know someone does.
We’ve had some great adventures metal detecting. Recently we hunted a Civil War era Union campsite near Fort Scott. We both came away with some great finds, mostly bullets.
He one-upped me by a ton when we hunted along Humboldt’s Bridge Street after an old sidewalk was removed.
I was having a miserable time that evening in my efforts. Were a silver dollar sitting on the surface, I doubt I could have found it.
I took solace when I later found out my machine’s calibration had slipped several pegs.
Meanwhile, Robbie ran into a covey of Civil War pistol bullets and was pulling one after another from three to four inches deep.
When he saw my dismay, he moved from the spot. “Hunt here,” he urged, willing to share his bounty.
As long as I live, I’ll never forget his generosity.
For the record: The next evening while agonizing over my instruction manual, Robbie returned downtown and found three Seated Liberty dimes and three Indian Head pennies.
