Talk with a craftsman

I visited a craftsman’s workshop. I had always wanted to ask this craftsman about the emotional side of knife making, so I took some time to talk with him. I asked questions like, ‘Why did you become a craftsman?’ ‘What kind of knives do you want to make?’ ‘What are your goals?’ and so on. Initially, the conversation was straightforward, but as it deepened, I was struck with such shock and emotion that I nearly cried. It felt like a return to basics, a reminder of pure dedication and earnestness. It was a powerful reminder of those feelings.

• 2009-12-04