Homely Scientist

One of the things in my top ten list today was my engraved rock hammer.  Hsien left a comment about it, but I thought I should elaborate a bit more.  It needs a little back story.

If you’ve been following this blog from the beginning you know that this blog is dedicated to my Dad and Dr. Bob Nelson (who was my Geology advisor and mentor).  So what’s the deal here, why is this hunk of steel (it’s all steel) so important to me?  Like I said in my comment, it was tradition in the Geology Department for the department to buy and give engraved rock hammers to all the graduating Geo Majors.  People got the rock hammer suited to their speciality.  Hard rock (the kind with the pointy end) or soft rock (like mine, aka a mason’s hammer).  When I graduated I wasn’t a Geo major, but an Anthro major with a Geo minor.  I was one of the first (maybe the first) Geo minor to graduate.  But since I was only a Geo minor, no department funds were available to buy me a hammer.  Yeah I was a little disappointed, but little did I know Dr. Bob spent his own money to buy and engrave a rock hammer for me.

Yep, after 15 years it’s scarred, has paint on the handle (the digging end is great for opening paint cans), but it still reminds me when I hold it of the man who believed in me.  Yeah it’s geeky.  Who cares.  It reminds me to do the best I can do.  To mentor others when I can.  To keep asking questions and exploring the world around me.  I moved it from the shelf where is was to over my desk (I might have to move it because if it falls on my laptop, well you can imagine) so I can look at it for inspiration.

My Dad and Dr. Bob are the two men who have probably influenced me most in this world.  The two people who supported and challenged me.  Two people who have always believed in me.

So while I have my Dad’s pipe (one I gave him for Father’s Day when I was maybe 10) to remind me of him, I have my rock hammer to remind me of Dr. Bob.

Tags: mentors, rock hammer

1 Comment