Presenting a paddle to someone is, I believe, one of the most enduring forms of unspoken gratitude. I can say that I have never put too much time and effort into making a paddle for someone. And that they were deserving of all the energy I put into it. I have given out several paddles during my college years and for a wide variety of reasons. To my big Brother (I presented it to him when he was in the hospital.) To each of my little Brothers (five in all). To a Brother who loaned me $100 so I could finish out the semester without starving. And to another Brother who was just the nicest guy you would ever want to meet.

Back in my day it took a lot of time and effort to make a paddle. Find a nice piece of wood, cut it out with a rusty old saw so that it looked somewhat like a paddle, sand the bejeebers out of it, give it a good grip so it feels right when you hold it, make some wooden letters for the front and write a clever and thoughtful inscription on the back. Then brush on about 3 or 4 coats of shellac and its done!

I used to wrap mine up in old newspaper and butcher string (just to throw off the recipient). Then I watched to see the puzzled look on someone's face turn to pure joy when they unwrapped the newsprint to find a paddle hand made just for them. They were generally speechless but I am certain that for at least the next few hours the recipient was the happiest person on the planet. It seems as though they spent the next two weeks showing it off to everyone that walked into the room. When hung up on the wall, it seemed to be an irresistible force that caused everyone to walk up and admire it. And it didn't stop there because years later, they were still talking about it.

Nowadays, for you at least, the paddle thing is a much easier process. Each Paddle Art paddle is personally hand made by me. No rusty old saws, only modern equipment. It comes with a felt presentation sock to help protect it. It's a good start but now your job is to pick out the design and the colors and to put the finishing touches on it with a clever and thoughtful inscription on the back. Wrap it up in your own special way (old newsprint works well) and for a short time, make your recipient the happiest person on the planet. Let me know how it goes.

Presenting a paddle to someone is truly a remarkable experience for both you and the person you offer it to. It humbly shows how much you value true and honest friendship. It is a gift that will be cherished and remembered for years to come.