Thread: Howdy

Thanks for the opportunity to join the group. So much valuable information from so many sources with a variety of experiences!
My grandfather ( owner of a chain of carriage trade laundry and dry cleaners in Houston and an impeccable dresser) taught me the art of straight razor shaving when I was 15. He used the same barber for his daily shaves for 17 years. He did, however shave himself on the weekends and was amazingly skilled at it. Some of my fondest memories are the sights and sounds of the razor on the strop and then the blade against whiskers. Upon my high school graduation, he presented me with a matched set of custom made straights with scales made from antlers of a deer I had taken on family property the year before. They were made by a distant relative in Germany. The best present I have ever received. Shaving with these turned into a spectator sport at my college dorm. Tragically, I left my kit out on a counter while I was in the dorm shower and it was stolen. No reward offered inspired their return. I could not bring myself to replace them, so my straight shaving days ended there.
I am a recently retired archaeologist specializing in Meso America. I spent many happy years in Belize, Guatemala, and the Yucatan area of Mexico. An aside group members may be interested in: over the years, fellow diggers and myself uncovered curious artifacts from Maya burial caches. These were obsidian blades (the Maya did not use metals) which had been attached to wood or other perishable materials. These were called "bloodletters" as the Maya elite would self mutilate tongues, lips, earlobes and even genitals for blood offerings during religious ceremonies. I did not agree with this artifact classification because unless you were going to slit your wrist, the design of these delicate blades made no sense as a tool for puncturing the skin. In 1978 I uncovered a cache at Cahal Pech in Belize containing a finely worked obsidian blade still attached to a carved bone handle inlaid with jade. Clearly, this was a straight razor! Still sharp after about 2300 years.
In 1987, I had a "midlife crisis" and became a member of the National and Olympic Cycling Team support staff. You think shaving your face or head is an adventure, try shaving you legs from your ass to your toes! Elite level cyclists shave legs for both ease of massage and to cut down on infection and healing time after ubiquitous "road rash".
Now retired, I finally have the time and inclination to return to REAL shaving. I look forward to your fellowship.

Welcome to SRP,

You might want to watch the following Forum for Razor Meets in your area.....Get Togethers and Meetings

Look thru those threads to find some that were close to you.