Ideas for “rights of passage” for my son & gift suggestions

[WRasco]

Like was already said above. - Rudyard Kipling’s “If–”
One of my favorites... Give me a knot in my stomach every time.


"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!"

[3ChordTruth]

Like was already said above. - Rudyard Kipling’s “If–”
One of my favorites... Give me a knot in my stomach every time.


"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!"

X2

Thanks for posting WRasco. Sometimes a lump in my throat, sometimes a knot in my stomach, but can never read this great poem without emotion.

[Tejas Wildlife]

Dale is right

Good lord...some of yall could ruin a good party.


Just take'em to the ranch and do ranch stuff! A new knife, tool, or shootin iron would be cool. But I bet you've got plenty of .22s and stuff, get'em out and let the kids burn ammo and fish...that's what kids want to do. Buy a case of cheap sodas to shake up for targets. Stay up late, eat good, big fire, drink dr pepper....etc.

They will remember it for the rest of their lives. What other Dad would do this? I rest my case!

[Tejas Wildlife]

Yep

Another vote for Ruger Single Six. First gun I saved my own money for. Of course dad had to buy it. Very reliable and safer than a semi. I love that pistol. First pistol my son ever shot when he was a little guy.

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Ruger Single six. Drop the microphone and walking away...........