I am having a ball carving walking sticks in my garage. After 38 years as a teacher and middle school/high school principal, I am using some talent that I had as a young man. In 1978, I was hired as the principal at Battle Mountain High School in Eage Vail.

We moved from Illinois and I became very active in hiking, skiing and fishing while working as a principal. I began to do some carving again and had started to carve with my father while he was recovering from a serious illness before making the move to Colorado.

I observed people, while hiking, who picked up weathered sticks to use on the trails. This began my interest in carving walking sticks and I started to give these as gifts to my staff members. Through word of mouth, I began to get orders for sticks from people at church and through Rotary. I decided to make this a business after I retired.

Sometime ago, I sent an email to the CEO of whistlecreek.com and sent him some pictures of some of my sticks. I now carve for whistlecreek.com and also have my own web page.

I have learned that someone who is considered a senior citzen has as much potential for success as a younger person. I am a healthy 73 year old who is enjoying my golden years and hope that my business will take off big time. Maybe I can be the Bill Gates of walking sticks! Just kidding, but I love carving these sticks.

Come visit my site at www.coloradowalkingsticks.com.