sm
member
Then there was Texas…
I was in Dallas, working; ok I was there on business, not necessarily the same thing. I had planned this trip to coincide with a fun shoot, and clinic. I learned a l-o-n-g time ago not to “projectâ€. I learned planning was okay, in moderation of course. Life is too short to plan it away; spontaneous is good and quite educational as well.
I’m in a high dollar fancy hotel bar, remembering why I am so grateful I quit that stuff, enjoying my coffee. Ok so I had already spilled my coffee once and missed the ashtray, hey they raise some fine looking women in TX. Barmaid laughed and said at least I was honest; the other poor jerks were just too inebriated to appreciate the scenery.
She walked into the bar looking for someone, didn’t see them and headed to the bar. I’m a sucker for a brunette with brown eyes, these were hazel. That low cut top and the slit on that formal dress when she sat down in the tall chair and ordered coffee...
Here comes the couple I’m supposed to meet. We had shot a few times in my home state, elsewhere , and out and about, we shook hands and I re –introduced myself to his wife. They had been to a “functionâ€, meaning they had attended a charity in which he had donated monies. He hated the “monkey suit†, his wife commented she hated dress up as well, but said her old man cleaned up well for an old fart.
They noticed I had noticed the lovely creature at the bar. “Would you like to meet her?†Guess who was looking for her parents; want to guess who her parents are? Gee, you guessed first try.
Parents laughed, I blushed, and to really make matters worse daughter shows a bit more thigh, and really leans over in seating. “Steve, face it, we ain’t got a prayer†her daddy said. Wife “are your intentions honorable? I replied “No, I’m a southern boy we have a reputation to maintainâ€. Wife, “fair enough, at least your honest, that’s why I married this[pointing at hubby] his intentions were noy honorable either†, she laughed. Daughter is really sharp and we cut up like we have known each other forever.
We all decide to change clothes, head out for dinner. Over the buffalo steak and various seafoods, it is decided Daughter and I will head west while folks take care of one more bit of business. Daughter and I will help get the range in order for the clinic.
Daughter is a shooter of course; hey she was born and bred in TX after all. It is hot and humid; the range is dry and dusty. So we decide to shoot a few rounds and then we shoot some pistols. Well- can’t fault a gal who knows her way around a pump shotgun, a 1911 and a K frame. We have that in common.
Other folks are helping out, now Fred is running the tractor and mowing, later he will mow around the pond. The range has indoor plumbing but one “port -a-potty†has yet to be picked up, so the fellas move it out to a spot on the property so it can be used while that area is being worked on.
Like most folks Daughter and I are carrying side arms, just the way we were raised. We both carry 1911s, btw. Well critters out past the edge in some growth, when the sun sets, critters such as snakes, some critters come out in daytime, plus you never know about the 2 legged variety showing up where guns, people working and the such. Just the way things are done, this is TX, but I was raised this way as well.
So daughter and I are filling up trap houses, water coolers, stocking the fridge with eats, and getting that part taken care of. We will later get to checking out some range guns and ammo. We are using an old pick-up truck of daddy’s to run around in, she may look fine in formal attire but it ain’t her. Pick-Ups with no air, jeans , boots or tennis shoes , guns and ice tea…and we may have just been crazy enough to head out over dry rough terrain to throw up dust and watch the critters scatter. It’s what you do. We behaved, I was a ‘gentleman†we had two days before the parents returned. I stayed at the homestead.
See folks raise kids a certain way, there is trust and respect, Daughter can take care of herself, my reputation is sound. The parents are fine with all this, yes they were younger once, they ain’t stupid. They would not have suggested if anything was not appropriate and the daughter was comfortable. Just the way things are when raised a certain way. You learn to read people and trust instincts. I miss this being taught and passed down.
Harvey is running a weed-eater; he is doing well with the shakes from running the power-washer earlier. Tip for anyone, never use either before you intend to shoot, poor Harvey spilled more water than what went in him. Fred is, well Fred is a bit overweight by admission, and Thyroid problems caused him to “swell up†as he put it. Now with all this noise, one wears hearing protection, you can’t hear squat on a tractor anyway, add plugs and muffs.
Daughter and I are sitting on the porch under a ceiling fan, with two box fans blowing, drinking lemonade and having a sandwich. We don’t see the flags that mark the wasp’s nest Harvey had marked humm. Another fella is going to destroy some old black powder over yonder.
Always trust your gut, always.
Knock Knock, “I’m Mr. Murphy and I’m not here to helpâ€.
So the black powder is lit and the clay boxes are set afire in the deep pit for such with the chicken wire around, old boy has the water hose handy if need, but we have a bunch of smoke. Through the smoke we see, what we “think†is Fred standing up on the tractor swatting and batting with his straw hat. Uh Oh…smoke clears a bit and we see the tractor going one way and Fred heading the other… to the port- a- potty…at quite a gallop- I might add. Yep, Fred found the wasp’s nest, and boy did he. Now I’m a bit concerned with Fred’s medical condition, Daughter has that look too.
“Harvey!!â€She yells, he can’t hear squat, with muffs and that weed-eater…she is trying to find where that nest is, and, any others, we are going after Fred taking refuge in the port-a potty. I run to get the two big fire extinguishers, a heavy yellow rain slicker and hat I spotted in the clubhouse. It does no good to holler at Fred, honk a horn, I even try an air horn arrgghh…my mind is racing…thrower... damn there isa thrower the guys were playing with earlier. I toss stuff in the truck “Get the truck and follow meâ€, I get that look from daughter that says she understands…not sure what…but I’m up to something. I take off in a dead run, scoot that mother around and start lobbing clays at the port-a potty…hey, I’m a shot-gunner; I can do this, right? Pull, miss, adjust, pull, dang, Daughter shows up, “ok the guy is nuts but he ain’t crazy†she is thinking. She is loading and I’m adjusting and pulling, crap!... rope breaks…no time to replace with some rope in the truck , she tosses gloves to protect my hands, by golly I got it figured out, “thud,.. thud†…Fred peers out like what the hell?. I wave and motion the Calvary is coming.
“ You drive and I’ll be in the bed lets get Fred†I don the rain slicker, hat and I’m sweating like crazy in this Texas heat…we are flat moving and bouncing she pulls up and I start with fire extinguishers, we got wasps that ain’t too happy. Fred hops in, and we head out.
Though Fred is argumentative, well I can be sorta headstrong, I insist Fred take Benedryl and Harvey rush him to ER. I found out later a LEO was spotted and Harvey told him the deal, got a front door to the ER, lights and all. Fred was smart to get attention, take the Benedryl, he got hit pretty good. Fred stayed overnight for observation due to thyroid condition and meds.
Well surprisingly I fared pretty well, my legs got a few stings through the jeans but that slicker, hat, gloves and extinguishers saved my bacon. Daughter only a few on the arms, she drove with windows up. Must have come in with Fred.
We cool off, drink lots of water, and sit. “Wanna get the tractor? “She asked. “Yeah might as well, that should be no big dealâ€. I replied.
Mr. Murphy had decided to stay a bit longer, I guess.
We walk out towards the tractor, this put us near the pond, guns drawn, seems we disturbed some critter out sunning, so we ease “over that direction†keeping eyes peeled. We change plans again upon spying a red ant hill, pick another direction. We re-holster, she hops on the tractor, and backs out of the brush. We head back me walking- she driving, and taking it slow. We get close to the pond again and I point to a downed flag, uh oh, my gut says this is not a good thing. Next thing you know we are doing our rendition of Butch and Sundance running towards the pond and jumping as far into said pond as can…â€splash!â€.
“You know, some folks say they get bored, what’s “boredâ€â€ she asked.†The H*ll if I know, why are you asking meâ€. I replied “Dunno thought maybe you had looked it up or somethingâ€. So after a bit of diving under and evading some angry critters with wings… “All right enough of this…stuff†I said. Well it seems the tractor made it quite a distance, far enough that a fella was able to bring it in. Well there goes plan A,plan A being run like heck, jump on that sucker and drive fast. Well not exactly what I said, but that was the general idea.
“Your’re thinking aren’t you†she asks. “Yep!†“You get into trouble when you think?†Yep! “Well I do too…you thinking what I’m thinking?†“Yep!†Seems as if I’m not the only one wired to just head straight for something and face it. I noticed we both do that take a breath with clenched teeth dealie as well.
So the wasps must have found something more interesting to do, most anyway. “Right or Left?†I ask. “Huh?†you prefer to shoot right or left, me I don’t care, but it’s polite to ask a ladyâ€. She laughed took a look at me, at herself, and said†I don’t care, we see snakes, we’ll figure it outâ€. We did. We start to wade out and naturally we find the spot were the snakes like to sun close to the pond, so in water about half-way to knees we do our rendition of “Out of Africa†and blast a hole to run through. By the way for future reference, 1911 mags don’t float, I thought about it later, at the time we were doing mag changes and were pre-occupied.
We pull up to the homestead, it is hot and dusty, we have dust on the wet clothes and we look and smell awful. Parents come out give a look like “do we shoot them or welcome them in†Parents are laughing and pointing. Mom asks “Well did you maintain your honor, or did “intentions†get the best you twoâ€. Daughter interrupts before I could utter a word. “Momma we have too much fun with our clothes onâ€. Later I find out mom and dad was quite a couple, still are, but in younger days that would have been them out there today.
We clean up, visited Fred...eww, he was real grateful for the calvary and the push to seek medical attnetion. The four of us hit a dinner theatre, kinda of a toss up as to which was more enjoyable to the parents, our day or the play..." Pajama Tops".
This fun shoot was actually for the members and friends to bring kids to shoot. Oh the adults had a 50 shot dealie, but it was more for fun and teaching. Hot dogs, hamburgers, grill fired up. Kids shot shotguns and 22 rifles, We had a Mec reloader and showed how to use it for a bunch of folks that just wanted to learn. I had fun with the small kids with a single shot. Every kid went home with a prize, eye and ear protection, sunburn, safety info., memories and maybe a belly-ache. I really think the adults; even the non shooters had more fun than the kids. We dpelled a lot of myths about kids and guns. Daughter for example helped with the safety portion. It is great when folks just pitch in with guns , ammo , food and just have fun teaching kids ,parents and non-shooters about the shooting sports.
Texas has some really good folks, they even accept me and let me play.
If you ever attend an “event†where you are to shoot a port-a-potty using a thrower and clays, I know the fella that inspired that ‘eventâ€.
I was in Dallas, working; ok I was there on business, not necessarily the same thing. I had planned this trip to coincide with a fun shoot, and clinic. I learned a l-o-n-g time ago not to “projectâ€. I learned planning was okay, in moderation of course. Life is too short to plan it away; spontaneous is good and quite educational as well.
I’m in a high dollar fancy hotel bar, remembering why I am so grateful I quit that stuff, enjoying my coffee. Ok so I had already spilled my coffee once and missed the ashtray, hey they raise some fine looking women in TX. Barmaid laughed and said at least I was honest; the other poor jerks were just too inebriated to appreciate the scenery.
She walked into the bar looking for someone, didn’t see them and headed to the bar. I’m a sucker for a brunette with brown eyes, these were hazel. That low cut top and the slit on that formal dress when she sat down in the tall chair and ordered coffee...
Here comes the couple I’m supposed to meet. We had shot a few times in my home state, elsewhere , and out and about, we shook hands and I re –introduced myself to his wife. They had been to a “functionâ€, meaning they had attended a charity in which he had donated monies. He hated the “monkey suit†, his wife commented she hated dress up as well, but said her old man cleaned up well for an old fart.
They noticed I had noticed the lovely creature at the bar. “Would you like to meet her?†Guess who was looking for her parents; want to guess who her parents are? Gee, you guessed first try.
Parents laughed, I blushed, and to really make matters worse daughter shows a bit more thigh, and really leans over in seating. “Steve, face it, we ain’t got a prayer†her daddy said. Wife “are your intentions honorable? I replied “No, I’m a southern boy we have a reputation to maintainâ€. Wife, “fair enough, at least your honest, that’s why I married this[pointing at hubby] his intentions were noy honorable either†, she laughed. Daughter is really sharp and we cut up like we have known each other forever.
We all decide to change clothes, head out for dinner. Over the buffalo steak and various seafoods, it is decided Daughter and I will head west while folks take care of one more bit of business. Daughter and I will help get the range in order for the clinic.
Daughter is a shooter of course; hey she was born and bred in TX after all. It is hot and humid; the range is dry and dusty. So we decide to shoot a few rounds and then we shoot some pistols. Well- can’t fault a gal who knows her way around a pump shotgun, a 1911 and a K frame. We have that in common.
Other folks are helping out, now Fred is running the tractor and mowing, later he will mow around the pond. The range has indoor plumbing but one “port -a-potty†has yet to be picked up, so the fellas move it out to a spot on the property so it can be used while that area is being worked on.
Like most folks Daughter and I are carrying side arms, just the way we were raised. We both carry 1911s, btw. Well critters out past the edge in some growth, when the sun sets, critters such as snakes, some critters come out in daytime, plus you never know about the 2 legged variety showing up where guns, people working and the such. Just the way things are done, this is TX, but I was raised this way as well.
So daughter and I are filling up trap houses, water coolers, stocking the fridge with eats, and getting that part taken care of. We will later get to checking out some range guns and ammo. We are using an old pick-up truck of daddy’s to run around in, she may look fine in formal attire but it ain’t her. Pick-Ups with no air, jeans , boots or tennis shoes , guns and ice tea…and we may have just been crazy enough to head out over dry rough terrain to throw up dust and watch the critters scatter. It’s what you do. We behaved, I was a ‘gentleman†we had two days before the parents returned. I stayed at the homestead.
See folks raise kids a certain way, there is trust and respect, Daughter can take care of herself, my reputation is sound. The parents are fine with all this, yes they were younger once, they ain’t stupid. They would not have suggested if anything was not appropriate and the daughter was comfortable. Just the way things are when raised a certain way. You learn to read people and trust instincts. I miss this being taught and passed down.
Harvey is running a weed-eater; he is doing well with the shakes from running the power-washer earlier. Tip for anyone, never use either before you intend to shoot, poor Harvey spilled more water than what went in him. Fred is, well Fred is a bit overweight by admission, and Thyroid problems caused him to “swell up†as he put it. Now with all this noise, one wears hearing protection, you can’t hear squat on a tractor anyway, add plugs and muffs.
Daughter and I are sitting on the porch under a ceiling fan, with two box fans blowing, drinking lemonade and having a sandwich. We don’t see the flags that mark the wasp’s nest Harvey had marked humm. Another fella is going to destroy some old black powder over yonder.
Always trust your gut, always.
Knock Knock, “I’m Mr. Murphy and I’m not here to helpâ€.
So the black powder is lit and the clay boxes are set afire in the deep pit for such with the chicken wire around, old boy has the water hose handy if need, but we have a bunch of smoke. Through the smoke we see, what we “think†is Fred standing up on the tractor swatting and batting with his straw hat. Uh Oh…smoke clears a bit and we see the tractor going one way and Fred heading the other… to the port- a- potty…at quite a gallop- I might add. Yep, Fred found the wasp’s nest, and boy did he. Now I’m a bit concerned with Fred’s medical condition, Daughter has that look too.
“Harvey!!â€She yells, he can’t hear squat, with muffs and that weed-eater…she is trying to find where that nest is, and, any others, we are going after Fred taking refuge in the port-a potty. I run to get the two big fire extinguishers, a heavy yellow rain slicker and hat I spotted in the clubhouse. It does no good to holler at Fred, honk a horn, I even try an air horn arrgghh…my mind is racing…thrower... damn there isa thrower the guys were playing with earlier. I toss stuff in the truck “Get the truck and follow meâ€, I get that look from daughter that says she understands…not sure what…but I’m up to something. I take off in a dead run, scoot that mother around and start lobbing clays at the port-a potty…hey, I’m a shot-gunner; I can do this, right? Pull, miss, adjust, pull, dang, Daughter shows up, “ok the guy is nuts but he ain’t crazy†she is thinking. She is loading and I’m adjusting and pulling, crap!... rope breaks…no time to replace with some rope in the truck , she tosses gloves to protect my hands, by golly I got it figured out, “thud,.. thud†…Fred peers out like what the hell?. I wave and motion the Calvary is coming.
“ You drive and I’ll be in the bed lets get Fred†I don the rain slicker, hat and I’m sweating like crazy in this Texas heat…we are flat moving and bouncing she pulls up and I start with fire extinguishers, we got wasps that ain’t too happy. Fred hops in, and we head out.
Though Fred is argumentative, well I can be sorta headstrong, I insist Fred take Benedryl and Harvey rush him to ER. I found out later a LEO was spotted and Harvey told him the deal, got a front door to the ER, lights and all. Fred was smart to get attention, take the Benedryl, he got hit pretty good. Fred stayed overnight for observation due to thyroid condition and meds.
Well surprisingly I fared pretty well, my legs got a few stings through the jeans but that slicker, hat, gloves and extinguishers saved my bacon. Daughter only a few on the arms, she drove with windows up. Must have come in with Fred.
We cool off, drink lots of water, and sit. “Wanna get the tractor? “She asked. “Yeah might as well, that should be no big dealâ€. I replied.
Mr. Murphy had decided to stay a bit longer, I guess.
We walk out towards the tractor, this put us near the pond, guns drawn, seems we disturbed some critter out sunning, so we ease “over that direction†keeping eyes peeled. We change plans again upon spying a red ant hill, pick another direction. We re-holster, she hops on the tractor, and backs out of the brush. We head back me walking- she driving, and taking it slow. We get close to the pond again and I point to a downed flag, uh oh, my gut says this is not a good thing. Next thing you know we are doing our rendition of Butch and Sundance running towards the pond and jumping as far into said pond as can…â€splash!â€.
“You know, some folks say they get bored, what’s “boredâ€â€ she asked.†The H*ll if I know, why are you asking meâ€. I replied “Dunno thought maybe you had looked it up or somethingâ€. So after a bit of diving under and evading some angry critters with wings… “All right enough of this…stuff†I said. Well it seems the tractor made it quite a distance, far enough that a fella was able to bring it in. Well there goes plan A,plan A being run like heck, jump on that sucker and drive fast. Well not exactly what I said, but that was the general idea.
“Your’re thinking aren’t you†she asks. “Yep!†“You get into trouble when you think?†Yep! “Well I do too…you thinking what I’m thinking?†“Yep!†Seems as if I’m not the only one wired to just head straight for something and face it. I noticed we both do that take a breath with clenched teeth dealie as well.
So the wasps must have found something more interesting to do, most anyway. “Right or Left?†I ask. “Huh?†you prefer to shoot right or left, me I don’t care, but it’s polite to ask a ladyâ€. She laughed took a look at me, at herself, and said†I don’t care, we see snakes, we’ll figure it outâ€. We did. We start to wade out and naturally we find the spot were the snakes like to sun close to the pond, so in water about half-way to knees we do our rendition of “Out of Africa†and blast a hole to run through. By the way for future reference, 1911 mags don’t float, I thought about it later, at the time we were doing mag changes and were pre-occupied.
We pull up to the homestead, it is hot and dusty, we have dust on the wet clothes and we look and smell awful. Parents come out give a look like “do we shoot them or welcome them in†Parents are laughing and pointing. Mom asks “Well did you maintain your honor, or did “intentions†get the best you twoâ€. Daughter interrupts before I could utter a word. “Momma we have too much fun with our clothes onâ€. Later I find out mom and dad was quite a couple, still are, but in younger days that would have been them out there today.
We clean up, visited Fred...eww, he was real grateful for the calvary and the push to seek medical attnetion. The four of us hit a dinner theatre, kinda of a toss up as to which was more enjoyable to the parents, our day or the play..." Pajama Tops".
This fun shoot was actually for the members and friends to bring kids to shoot. Oh the adults had a 50 shot dealie, but it was more for fun and teaching. Hot dogs, hamburgers, grill fired up. Kids shot shotguns and 22 rifles, We had a Mec reloader and showed how to use it for a bunch of folks that just wanted to learn. I had fun with the small kids with a single shot. Every kid went home with a prize, eye and ear protection, sunburn, safety info., memories and maybe a belly-ache. I really think the adults; even the non shooters had more fun than the kids. We dpelled a lot of myths about kids and guns. Daughter for example helped with the safety portion. It is great when folks just pitch in with guns , ammo , food and just have fun teaching kids ,parents and non-shooters about the shooting sports.
Texas has some really good folks, they even accept me and let me play.
If you ever attend an “event†where you are to shoot a port-a-potty using a thrower and clays, I know the fella that inspired that ‘eventâ€.
Great story.
