The Man Box

Every guy should have a man box. A man box, to the uninitiated, is a box (duh) that a guy uses to put mementos, personal affects or cool little trinkets to pass on to their kids. I've had one for about 20 years, and the contents are ever changing. Currently this is what's in my box.







I use an old Jack Daniel's tin. Why?

#1. Because it's freakin' cool.

#2. Because I have a lot of crap that a cigar box wouldn't hold

#3. I like JD. Don't judge me.




And this, ladies and gentlepeople, is the contents:














Let's break it down, starting at 12 o'clock high on the picture. That's at the tippy top for all you public school kids.

Various patches, rank insignia, military patches, unit coin and my Navy ring. The smaller gold ring is the signet ring my grandfather wore when he was alive. Going clockwise we have a money clip (i have no money, so the clip is delegated to the box), a Fleet Marine Force Special Warfare qualification badge, my dog tags with jerry rigged silencers on the chain, a couple of extra medals from back in the day, a Good Conduct (suprised?) and National Defense, my SOG knife I used while in the Gulf, and at the 6 o'clock position a mouth piece. I have a thing about my teeth, and one of my old room mates was a dental tech and made if for me. Again, don't judge. Kind of in the middle are a couple of pocket knives, my grandpa's watch, about 3/4 of my ribbons and awards (GO NAVY!), my boatswain's pipe (not the cool kind, settle down kids), and a necklace my parents gave me when I graduated high school. I think they were kind of relieved. And finally a handful of the old silver half dollars. Just because.

So get out there, gather up your little bits o'you and put them together in a place the kids aren't allowed to mess with. Let it be the "mystery box." Or the Man Box, whatever.