Back in 1977 I walked into a new-to-me gun shop and bought some components. Total was about $35 and I asked if he would take a check. The owner said "Sure". He took the check and I reached for my back pocket and said "Do you need to see my license ?" He said, "No I don't." I must have had a shocked or quizzical look on my face, because he looked straight at me and said "I've never had a bad check from a reloader."
And that's the way it is in this fraternity. Brother helping brother. Honesty and integrity by the bucket load. People are just genuinely happy to share all their best ideas, pet loads and reloading secrets. There probably hasn't been such a embodiment of kinship, sharing and "family" since monks were sequestered in monasteries during the Middle Ages !
While I fully acknowledge the magnificence of the Gift that is the namesake of the season, I prefaced my remarks to point out that this brotherhood is one of the better examples of "Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men", as He intended. While the civility of the season lasts barely 1 month on Main Street, I continue to find it here 24/7, all 12 months of the year. Thank you.
And oh yes, Merry Christmas !