The time has finally arrived, that Bruce’s Trading Post is surrendering it’s Federal FireArms License to the Anchorage Office of the BATFE… The simple fact is it is time to wrap up many of my Business Affairs, and that includes the Trading Post based in Excursion Inlet, Alaska… I haven’t been to the place for over two years, except my brother took me up for a week last summer, after AlaskaChick had the Powerhouse burn down, clear to the Ground, with nothing but ashes left… It turns out that all the FFL Records for the Trading Post were stored in the Powerhouse, and are now ashes, themselves.. On Monday, I received a phonecall from the nice lady Inspector from the Anchorage BATFE Office wanting to see if I was still in business, and wanting to schedule an Inspection… I told her that I had not conducted any FFL Business in over two years, that we had a fire, and all the Records were lost last summer, and that I have Terminal Metastasized Pancreatic Cancer, and have been in Hospice Care for the last six months.. She told me if I voluntarily Surrendered my Current License, there would be a simple set of two forms to Sign, since I had no Inventory, and no Records to turn in, due to the fire.. She eMailed me the two forms, and I will email them back this afternoon.. Quick, easy, no fuss no muss… So, after many decades, Bruce’s Trading Post is no longer an FFL.. The end of an Era.. AlaskaChick and I still have the Belgian Browning HiPower, her Dan Wesson Stainless .357 Mag Pistol Pack, our Ruger Old Army 44 Cal BP Pistol, and our two 50 Cal BP Hawkin Trade Rifles.. More than enough firepower for the time I have left on this Rock.. It does bring a tear to the eye, thinking about all the people I have meet and done business with over the years, clear back to the Custom Ammunition Biz I ran before we moved to Alaska, permanently…. Oh well, time moves on and so do I…
You know, I never understood, "it's all about the journey" until I got older and finally hung it up, retired. I get it now. I was thinking just yesterday that if things happened only a few years earlier that I'd be in Ukraine right now, got thinking about it and it sort of pissed me off that I couldn't go now because - well - too old. That is that and no way around it, just too damn old. Hell, the $hit I've seen and done, should have been dead long ago anyway. No doubt in my itty-bitty mind, God is looking out for me. People around here think I'm either a braggart or a whacko but I don't give a damn, I just let them decide what they will. Freedom is when you can tell the rest of the world to go to Hell, right? Besides, there's good eats in the cupboard and 'booze in the blender', loads of memories, some bad, we try to forget those, but mostly good. Yeah, it is indeed all about the journey,,,
Cutting back is tough and letting go is hard. I'm at the starting point of that process and just beginning to understand. You have my understanding, sympathy, and prayers. The greatest thing a man can accomplish is to live his life well, and you have set an example for many.
Sorry to hear you're ailing, @BTPost .....but I doubt you'll go quietly. Make that sumbitch fight for your last breath, and spit in his face when he says it's time! Like my favorite t-shirt says, it's all about the journey. I pray that you have made the most of yours, and enjoyed the ride!
Yeah, getting old isn't for sissies and I'm sure that when I am heading for my last breath it'll be difficult to not rage against the dying of the light. Maybe I'll find the courage to look back and say, "Wow, what a ride!" The headstone on my son's grave has his name and his birth and death dates but what really counts is what he accomplished between those dates.
Bruce, I am sorry to know that you are in the circumstances that you have described, and that you feel impelled to take the actions that you have taken, because of the circumstances that you have found yourself to be in. I hope that setting your affairs in order while you may is some comfort to you and your family. I agree with Dunerunnner with regards to one's memories. It is well to conserve for those who succeed us, such memories as will inform them of who were were when we were alive and vital, and contributing to their futures; as well as those experiences which influenced us in the unfolding of our own lives. Fortunately present technology exists such that we can speak for ourselves instead of relying upon the fading memories of immediate kith and kin postmortem: The challenge is to do so before it is too late.
It is HARD! We have been shutting parts and pieces our business down. for the same reason but a little different. Doc was plent blunt at the last visit with Mrs Krap, The Surgery and Chemo bought her 4-5 more years but it didn't and will not cure the cancer. Just burns me up having watched a strong woman turn into a very frail and weak of body but still strong of spirit woman that looks like skin stretched over bones now I am only half of the equation and the last 9 months has proven that I can't keep up with what I do and do her half as well. So we sat down with the list and started scratching things off of it. HARD killing things that we have spent the last 25 years building together! Hard for her to face her mortality and I thing sometimes I am having a harder time facing her mortality than she is. It looked good for a while and thought it might be beat. Chemo stopped and then a short time later the cancer markers exploded again. HARD the cancer is killing her and the chemo to get it under control is killing her. She has found a peaceful acceptance of the outcome that I can't seem to get a hold of. Sounds like you have found that same peace. I wonder if AlaskaChick is having the same struggle with it as I am.....
No one is getting off this rock alive . But we never expect it to be cut short by a nasty illness . BT ,, I've never really talked with you ,but , from you're posts , I see you as an honest straight forward , no bullshit type of guy . Willing to help anyone that's willing to help themselves. Mr Kamp ,, I pretty much see the same way ,, your drive and energy is impressive ,, but knowing nothing comes free , and hard work is how you attain your dreams . And seeing you put your dreams together is impressive. And beside each of you is a woman who is as strong, or stronger than each of you ,, and equally impressive. And is deserving of as much , or more respect, than they even realize . My thoughts and prayers are with you all ,, and pray for a peaceful transition when the time comes . And I hope for peace for the family and friends that are left behind . I sometimes think that those that are leaving us here in these few years , are the lucky ones ,, as I don't believe this coming new world is going to be what we once had , loved , and respected . It may not have been perfect,, but I fear what's coming will be far worse . God Bless you all on your journey's.
Super mega dittos SB.....Complete agreement with your words. You've written it better than I could have. Somewhere, sometime long ago I heard it said, "It is the woman by your side that makes you the man that you ultimately become----for better or worse".
Well, the Hospice Nurse comes by to check up on me every Wednesday just before noon… When we first started down this road it was three times a week, but after a couple of weeks, it was obvious that once a week would be enough to satisfy the Medicare People… She checks all my vitals, and listens to my lungs, heart, and my gurgling guts, just to make sure I am not faking still being alive.. This week she checked the RX on all the “End of Life” Meds that AlaskaChick has stored away, for when the Train Engine has finally got close enough to hear the Rumbling, and the Whistle is loud in my ears… Then I will know that there is truly. “ No place to run, and no place to hide, in this long train tunnel of life.” I was looking at. some pictures of the Trading Post this morning, and thought I would share a couple here with my Monkey Friends… Note: The Powerhouse (The bldg with the leantoo porch cover on the left) is no longer there, but just a burnt spot on the ground…
I couldn’t find any pictures of the “Blue Cabin” to post.. The two vehicle Garage is in the First picture in the upper righr..
