Comments on: But who has time for the sharpening guy? (thoughts on an Old World moment in a New World diaspora) http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/ The future belongs to those who prove themselves the true friends of mankind. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:26:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Nick http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-250 Nick Tue, 14 Sep 2004 02:21:08 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-250 Mark: Thanks for your portrayal of "the sharperning guy," for I am one as well. I have been a professional sharperner for over 13 years with some of that time sharperning mobile. Though I used an inclosed van with a power generator and electric sharpening machines, I could still feel the sense of nostalgia in performing a service of a by gone age. People would come around my van in utter curiosity wondering what was going on in side. Though I no longer do mobile sharpening anymore (I'm making a career change into nursing), I do however continue to sharpern knives and such via a drop off location at a local butcher shop and my website. It doesn't pay much but, I don't think I'll ever be able to give it up, It's my labor of love. I guess I'll always remain the "sharpening guy" Nick: Sharper Approach Mark:

Thanks for your portrayal of “the sharperning guy,” for I am one as well. I have been a professional sharperner for over 13 years with some of that time sharperning mobile. Though I used an inclosed van with a power generator and electric sharpening machines, I could still feel the sense of nostalgia in performing a service of a by gone age. People would come around my van in utter curiosity wondering what was going on in side. Though I no longer do mobile sharpening anymore (I’m making a career change into nursing), I do however continue to sharpern knives and such via a drop off location at a local butcher shop and my website. It doesn’t pay much but, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give it up, It’s my labor of love. I guess I’ll always remain the “sharpening guy”

Nick: Sharper Approach

]]> By: portage park resident http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-249 portage park resident Mon, 10 Nov 2003 22:43:39 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-249 I remeber that same old gentleman walking down the sidewalk in the portage park neighborhood. Because I grew up in this GREAT neighborhood, around lockwood and grace street, which is near a east west street named irving park. I heard him this summer and caught a glimpse of him.And I have heard him in many years past quietly walking down the street with bells chiming and him softly saying "sharpening here". And I hope that next summer I could get my knifes and mower blades sharpened if he is still living. I remeber that same old gentleman walking down the sidewalk in the portage park neighborhood. Because I grew up in this GREAT neighborhood, around lockwood and grace street, which is near a east west street named irving park. I heard him this summer and caught a glimpse of him.And I have heard him in many years past quietly walking down the street with bells chiming and him softly saying “sharpening here”. And I hope that next summer I could get my knifes and mower blades sharpened if he is still living.

]]> By: miscellaureous http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-248 miscellaureous Thu, 19 Jun 2003 21:32:52 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-248 I have so few Old World moments in real life that I need to experience them virtually. Thank you for that. So, how do you feel about shoeshine stands? When I pass by them in Manhattan I feel they've popped out of an earlier era. I have so few Old World moments in real life that I need to experience them virtually. Thank you for that.

So, how do you feel about shoeshine stands? When I pass by them in Manhattan I feel they’ve popped out of an earlier era.

]]> By: Doobs http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-247 Doobs Fri, 13 Jun 2003 19:01:20 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-247 We do what we know which becomes what we are. The sharpening guy may not know why he gets up each day and pushes that cart. But it's what he knows, what he can do without thinking, his grade, it's him. I simply love how you paint such a picture with words. We do what we know which becomes what we are.

The sharpening guy may not know why he gets up each day and pushes that cart. But it’s what he knows, what he can do without thinking, his grade, it’s him.
I simply love how you paint such a picture with words.

]]> By: ubaid http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-246 ubaid Thu, 12 Jun 2003 20:37:33 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-246 i'm surprised the sharpening guy walks the streets in the cities of america. coming from bombay, india i've grown up seeing people peddle all sorts of wares and skills on the pavements. in two years in los angeles however, it is only mexican immigrants selling cheap ice cream in little carts that i can compare with what you describe. thanks for sharing this. i’m surprised the sharpening guy walks the streets in the cities of america. coming from bombay, india i’ve grown up seeing people peddle all sorts of wares and skills on the pavements. in two years in los angeles however, it is only mexican immigrants selling cheap ice cream in little carts that i can compare with what you describe. thanks for sharing this.

]]> By: Dave http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-245 Dave Thu, 12 Jun 2003 10:10:32 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-245 I am the sharpening guy. Seriously. Today my wife and I own a hardware store, but I don't work there, I have another job. A very well paying job. And J brings home scisors, mower blades, pruning shears, etc. and I sharpen them at night so she can take them back to her customers the next day. For a couple of bucks, that don't mean anything to me. But these are older people who respect the property that they bought, and they will not throw away something perfectly good in order to purchase something new that is probably not as well made and costs too much in the first place. It may be an odd mentality for someone who trades in retail, but I would do it for free, because they deserve it. Those who respect a quality product and see it through to it's full useful life. When they do need to replace it they will come back to my wife's store and get another quality product, not Wal Mart. I am the sharpening guy. Seriously. Today my wife and I own a hardware store, but I don’t work there, I have another job. A very well paying job. And J brings home scisors, mower blades, pruning shears, etc. and I sharpen them at night so she can take them back to her customers the next day. For a couple of bucks, that don’t mean anything to me. But these are older people who respect the property that they bought, and they will not throw away something perfectly good in order to purchase something new that is probably not as well made and costs too much in the first place. It may be an odd mentality for someone who trades in retail, but I would do it for free, because they deserve it. Those who respect a quality product and see it through to it’s full useful life. When they do need to replace it they will come back to my wife’s store and get another quality product, not Wal Mart.

]]> By: Tobey Llop http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-244 Tobey Llop Thu, 12 Jun 2003 02:43:13 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-244 Maybe the cart with the stone are an excuse to take a walk; they were an excuse for a masterful piece of writing. There is pleasure to be had in doing something far better and more beautifully than most of us know how to do it. And there is a wonder in beholding the beauty. Maybe the cart with the stone are an excuse to take a walk; they were an excuse for a masterful piece of writing. There is pleasure to be had in doing something far better and more beautifully than most of us know how to do it. And there is a wonder in beholding the beauty.

]]> By: Rook http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-243 Rook Wed, 11 Jun 2003 20:46:44 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-243 You brought tears to my eyes. I have no words to describe exactly how you've moved me. You brought tears to my eyes. I have no words to describe exactly how you’ve moved me.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-242 Glenn Wed, 11 Jun 2003 19:34:46 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-242 I could almost hear the sound of metal on stone. I could almost hear the sound of metal on stone.

]]> By: Parkway Rest Stop http://www.thesentimentalist.com/2003/06/but-who-has-time-for-the-sharpening-guy-thoughts-on-an-old-world-moment-in-a-new-world-diaspora/#comment-241 Parkway Rest Stop Wed, 11 Jun 2003 17:42:55 +0000 http://thesentimentalist.com/?p=111#comment-241 What a wonderful piece of writing. I remember the sharpening guy in my New Jersey neighborhood many years ago. My mother said that nobody sharpened knives better. You brought it all back. Thanks for that. What a wonderful piece of writing. I remember the sharpening guy in my New Jersey neighborhood many years ago. My mother said that nobody sharpened knives better. You brought it all back. Thanks for that.

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