I’m such a baller.
February 4, 2008
It only took me 22 and a half years, but I have finally done it. I shot* a gun today. And it felt good.
At lunch on Friday, my co-worker Matt asked me if I really had never fired a gun before. Apparently this news had made it around the office. I told him the rumor was true.
Since he didn’t know there was a single 22-year-old male in the entire state that hadn’t fired a gun before, he felt obliged to show me the ropes. He also invited Doug, an army veteran and our current news editor, to his house on Saturday for some good ole fashioned fun.
And fun it was. Matt admitted that he wasn’t always the most careful gun owner in the world, but that since it was my first time, we had to go over the basics first. He reinforced gun safety, showed me how to load and unload a gun, how to take off the safety, etc. Eventually, it was time to shoot.
We set up water balloons and soda cans on his barbed wire fence, and stood about 20 yards away. The first gun I used was a Ruger 10/.22 Semi-Automatic.
I certainly was not a sharp shooter, but I like to think I wasn’t horrendous either. Practice makes perfect though, right? After shooting a few rounds of that, I switched it up to Doug’s gun—a single shot 12 gauge with a little more kick and a lot more noise (Don’t worry pops, I wore ear plugs.). Every now and then, I would forget to lean my body forward into the gun and get jolted back a little, but I got the hang of it fairly quickly.
It was a wholly satisfying experience. The smell of the gunpowder, the explosion of the water balloons after I hit my target, the smoke soaring to the skies above… I can’t wait to do it again.
Also, I saved the casing from the first bullet I shot. If anyone thinks of anything cool to do with it, let me know.
*I know I’m supposed to say fired. But writing “shot” feels so good right now.
This entry was supposed to be posted Saturday, Feb. 2, but unfortunately the internet was down in Stigler (or at least in my office). Maybe my cousin Mike was onto something with Oklahoma and the internet…
I remember the first time I shot a rifle! I was in Sun Valley Idaho in the Summer of 2004, shooting skeet on someone’s ranch – and I hit the clay on my very first shot!
BTY – Nice blog Stephen
All the best from LAX,
Bryant Place
http://www.school-for-champions.com/biographies/images/lee_harvey_oswald_2.jpg
Who says you can’t make a Redneck out of a Yankee?? YEE-HAWW! Way to go Steve!
I don’t know if you’ll ever get the “Yankee” or should I say the Northeast out of you! Glad to follow up on a former student and see just how much fun he’s having with his life. You always were your “own man”, even as a child! Keep up the great writing…you’ve got more than one fan in NJ!
Madeline O’Sullivan
SSS
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Hi Stephen,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your adventures to date and will have to share with Mrs. Lott the story about her “wink!” I’m glad to know all the essays you made me read in the 7th and 8th grades actually worked in your favor..you were a gifted writer then as you seem to be on your way now. We look forward to more of the same. Good luck! Mrs. J
Damn, boy. You should be holding a Blackberry, not a bullet.