Blacksmithing

I've repeatedly expressed my interest in blacksmithing, and for a long time it was something that was kind of out of my reach for actually getting to try out. However, I was able to find a place where I could take a class on the subject. Tonight was my first night of the class, and I was very excited, though also somewhat nervous as well - you never want to get into something you've been excited about to find that you don't enjoy it as much as you thought you would. As it turns out, that was not a concern.

I love blacksmithing. I have considered myself a gamer my entire life, and in the past two months have finished about four games. Three hours of blacksmithing tonight was more fun than I had with any of those games. I strained my fingers, I gave myself a blister on my thumb, and I don't think what I made looks all that particularly good. But I absolutely adored it. I loved the heat. I loved watching the metal move. I loved how with every heating of the steel I learned a little bit more. I loved how I could correct my mistakes just by reheating. I loved how much I was able to change the shape and length and size of the metal I was working with. Even as I was making mistakes, I was smiling. That's something I haven't done in a long time.

And I'm excited for what's to come. Next week we get to make a knife - literally what I want to do more than anything else. Spoons and forks after that, and I'll have a full set of silverware that I made with my own hands. And the more I learn, the more I'll be able to branch out. We learned basic shaping, but as we go on we'll learn more techniques, and those will consequently open more avenues for creation.

And perhaps best of all, when the class is over, I won't be done. Just by taking the class, I am permitted to return for free every week for the next year and use their equipment and their spare steel. I will be able to continue practicing. Apply what I have learned in more ways. Probably make a lot more knives.

They have tons of other classes, too. Things that I already know I'm interested in, and things that I would love to try. And I plan to take them - especially because after doing so, that will open up more areas that I can continue to use.

I don't remember the last time I was this excited for what was to come.