Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
| B-B Guns April 21, 2006 |
We all had one and used them to shoot birds in the cherry
tree, tin cans, bottles…and each other. There were many
fights in New Haven with those Red Ryder B-B guns.
One took place in a field of sagebrush just below Pine
Knob. Hugh Louis and I, lying low in a gulley, were being
surrounded by some other boys when he just decided our
only hope was to break out in a bold escape. He raised up
suddenly and charged forward, shooting as he went. His
target, an unlucky kid about my age, took a B-B right
between the eyes. That scared us a bit and ended the war
that day.
tree, tin cans, bottles…and each other. There were many
fights in New Haven with those Red Ryder B-B guns.
One took place in a field of sagebrush just below Pine
Knob. Hugh Louis and I, lying low in a gulley, were being
surrounded by some other boys when he just decided our
only hope was to break out in a bold escape. He raised up
suddenly and charged forward, shooting as he went. His
target, an unlucky kid about my age, took a B-B right
between the eyes. That scared us a bit and ended the war
that day.
Lee Greenwell, of course, had the best B-B gun in town. It wasa pump gun, much more powerful
than the lever action models we ordinary kids had. You didn't want to get hit by a shot from that
gun.
Sometimes in our battles when we captured a kid from the other side, we would confiscate his B-
B's and tell him he had the count of ten to escape. Then we would count 1,2, 9, 10 and start firing
at him as he scampered off. This was all in fun. I don't ever remember any anger involved in our
wars; it seems scary now but was just clean fun then.
On another occasion of war, I was in a group opposite the gang that included Bobby. We were in a
wooded area below Buzzard’s Roost. I happened to spot Bobby a few yards away drawing down
on one of my guys off to the right. Bobby was unaware that I had spotted him. He was covered
head to toe with a heavy coat, cap and long pants, the weather being a bit nippy. The only place I
could hit him besides his face and inflict any pain was to aim at the back of his right hand. I have
regretted it a thousand times since as my marksmanship was good that day and he did indeed
wail from the sting.
He suffered another bit of misfortune one day when Daddy got angry at Bobby for shooting a
window or something. Daddy seized Bobby’s B-B gun and with a wild swing, wrapped it around
the apple tree in the back yard.
My dear brother got the raw end of many a deal in those days and I was as much to blame as
anyone for it.
than the lever action models we ordinary kids had. You didn't want to get hit by a shot from that
gun.
Sometimes in our battles when we captured a kid from the other side, we would confiscate his B-
B's and tell him he had the count of ten to escape. Then we would count 1,2, 9, 10 and start firing
at him as he scampered off. This was all in fun. I don't ever remember any anger involved in our
wars; it seems scary now but was just clean fun then.
On another occasion of war, I was in a group opposite the gang that included Bobby. We were in a
wooded area below Buzzard’s Roost. I happened to spot Bobby a few yards away drawing down
on one of my guys off to the right. Bobby was unaware that I had spotted him. He was covered
head to toe with a heavy coat, cap and long pants, the weather being a bit nippy. The only place I
could hit him besides his face and inflict any pain was to aim at the back of his right hand. I have
regretted it a thousand times since as my marksmanship was good that day and he did indeed
wail from the sting.
He suffered another bit of misfortune one day when Daddy got angry at Bobby for shooting a
window or something. Daddy seized Bobby’s B-B gun and with a wild swing, wrapped it around
the apple tree in the back yard.
My dear brother got the raw end of many a deal in those days and I was as much to blame as
anyone for it.
___________________________________________________
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV) |
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