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Notes -
mfw I learn that Americans consider it totally normal for a man to carry a three-inch blade with him everywhere he goes
(Context.)
I used to more often than I do now. OTOH my car definitely always has several blades in it (mainly serious-business titanium scissors, box cutters, and the odd diagonal cutter if that counts) and I'm rarely far from my car.
Used to carry a leatherman all the time but it's not quite comfortable in the pocket or on the belt and after losing a couple I stopped bothering.
On my first date with my wife we got locked into a remote state park -- gates closed and locked and stuff -- and she was wowed when I had the tools, know-how, and willingness to dismantle the system, get us out, and put it back together with no one the wiser. Did I plan for this to happen? Consciously, I don't think I did. Subconsciously... probably. Definitely knew it was a strong possibility and had let myself out that way before, so was confident that if it came up it'd go well.
Anyway I had to make sure she was capable of holding a flashlight competently while I work on something.
I know people say the first few dates are sort of like a "wife audition", but this is not a skill I expected anyone to vet early on.
Tongue in cheek, of course. I knew I was going to marry her the moment I laid eyes on her. Was like I'd seen her a hundred times before in my dreams going back to teenage years, and recognized her instantly.
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