The Christmas that Changed Me From a Future Soldier to Artist…Then Architect!

I am sometimes asked: “What made you decide to become an Architect?”

Well, the Christmas of about 1955 in Indian Hill Ohio, was when my brother and I got BB guns.

Several of the neighborhood kids already had BB guns and one of them was allowed to shoot his parent’s shotgun! They would frequently be out of the nearby woods killing just about anything that moved including large swarms of crows and blackbirds and squirrels. My brother and I thought we could enjoy that too. So, we began asking Pop to consider getting us BB guns for Christmas. I remember the excitement!

So, on Christmas morning we came downstairs and looked under the Christmas tree. There was a brand-new BB gun for each of us sitting underneath.

I couldn’t wait to get outside and start blasting some of the little critters that others were having such fun with…

Pop insisted that we have some target practice first which was fine with me.
The Resors also have a history of metalworking and weapons construction including making some of the Pennsylvania long rifles used by George Washington as well as the splendid Long Rifle gifted to Davy Crockett by Pennsylvania in 1834.

My great-grandfather William Resor served in the Civil War starting in 1863 and survived that. His uniform and rifle came down to my brother and me eventually. As you will see here, I lost interest in those items.

So, back to the BB gun. Finally, my brother, a friend and I got to head out into the woods to see what we could find, and then just kill those things!

I lingered behind when I spotted a small Chickadee on a branch close by. It was chirping there gleefully as I drew him into my sights.

With my first shot, I knocked him down. As I leaned over and picked him up, his little heart was still pitter-patter beating in my hand and his little eyes looked right at me. I began to realize that, for absolutely no purpose, I had hurt this little critter who had never bothered me.

As he died in my hands, I put him under a leaf and ran back into the house because big tears were coming into my eyes, and I didn’t want the others to see that.

From that point on, I had very little interest in guns or weapons of any kind. Since I was always interested in art, I went forward in life with my drawing and architecture career and never again considered becoming a soldier.

Now, while I honor and greatly respect those that have gone the soldier route, I never had a further interest in that. I credit my Mom in particular for encouraging my interest in any kind of construction going on in Cincinnati or in our neighborhood. I especially remember the day the crane showed up to set the steeple on the Armstrong Chapel building.

Now in here Tennessee, I fondly watch the chickadees at our birdfeeders and appreciate the bird who gave his life for my change in career paths.