I never would have thought that guns would give my father and I a better relationship but it does. I'm 54 btw (it's relevant to my thread fellas...bear with me ok?)
Most of my life growing up was typical; get a job and get a car when you reach the teens, then it's always going out and being away from home. And then after moving out go for long piriods of time without contact with my parents. They would say things like, "it's been a while and we haven't heard from you, where have been, what have you been up to"? It's not like we had a bad relationship, I loved my parents. And whenever I could, I would visit them...but you know parents...it's never enough right?
But it's just that you never really give it much thought until a profound event happens in a family that changes things. My mother passed away about 6 years ago. And ever since then, I made a point in calling my father every morning on my way to work, and we visit at least once a week. I could tell he misses her, and he's lonely most of the time.
After a while, even though I enjoyed our visits...they were getting to be uneventful. That was until guns came into my life
He saw how much I enjoyed shooting that he decided to buy me a gift...my first handgun.. A Sig Sauer P226 Elite Dark 9mm. And I took him out to the range last year to have some fun.....well, he was THRILLED !!! If you could have seen the big smile from ear to ear that he had on his face...wow...He never fired a handgun in his life (only rifles), ever...up until that day...he was 78.
2 months ago I was browsing through Cabelas, and that's when I saw it......a BEAUTIFUL Used Browning Buckmark Contour URX 22 cal. I always wanted to get a Browning Buckmark !!!! So he offered to go halfs on it....
Then 2 weeks ago, I came across an article in a Canadian gun forum. Someone was selling off some of his collection of S & W's . As I scrolled down the page, that's when I saw it...an unfired, new in original box with all papers, original cleaning kit, and 2 mags.....was a 1988 Model 41....so my dad offered to go halfs on that one too. We should have it In our possession by end of next week.
I took him to the range today, to get some fresh air, and to smell the scent of fresh gunpowder again Going to the range will be a regular thing for us now...until he's unable to go....but even when he gets to that point...when he can't walk hardly... I told him not to worry because he could sit down, and prop the gun on a table to shoot.
I told him this "collection" we now have going, is what I realized, is the most prized collection of items thats giving us so much fun, and memories. And will continue to do so for me, long after he's gone.
You see, when I was sixteen, he bought me my first firearm; a Winchester 22 cal semi auto rifle. And now, 38 years later, he buys me my first handgun, and now 2 more to boot !!! Seems life really DOES go full circle doesn't it....even with guns !!. I just wanted to share this with you all, and maybe send a message to the younger members on this forum, to spend some time with your parents take em shooting....enjoy them.....while they're still here.
Most of my life growing up was typical; get a job and get a car when you reach the teens, then it's always going out and being away from home. And then after moving out go for long piriods of time without contact with my parents. They would say things like, "it's been a while and we haven't heard from you, where have been, what have you been up to"? It's not like we had a bad relationship, I loved my parents. And whenever I could, I would visit them...but you know parents...it's never enough right?
But it's just that you never really give it much thought until a profound event happens in a family that changes things. My mother passed away about 6 years ago. And ever since then, I made a point in calling my father every morning on my way to work, and we visit at least once a week. I could tell he misses her, and he's lonely most of the time.
After a while, even though I enjoyed our visits...they were getting to be uneventful. That was until guns came into my life
He saw how much I enjoyed shooting that he decided to buy me a gift...my first handgun.. A Sig Sauer P226 Elite Dark 9mm. And I took him out to the range last year to have some fun.....well, he was THRILLED !!! If you could have seen the big smile from ear to ear that he had on his face...wow...He never fired a handgun in his life (only rifles), ever...up until that day...he was 78.2 months ago I was browsing through Cabelas, and that's when I saw it......a BEAUTIFUL Used Browning Buckmark Contour URX 22 cal. I always wanted to get a Browning Buckmark !!!! So he offered to go halfs on it....
Then 2 weeks ago, I came across an article in a Canadian gun forum. Someone was selling off some of his collection of S & W's . As I scrolled down the page, that's when I saw it...an unfired, new in original box with all papers, original cleaning kit, and 2 mags.....was a 1988 Model 41....so my dad offered to go halfs on that one too. We should have it In our possession by end of next week.
I took him to the range today, to get some fresh air, and to smell the scent of fresh gunpowder again
Going to the range will be a regular thing for us now...until he's unable to go....but even when he gets to that point...when he can't walk hardly... I told him not to worry because he could sit down, and prop the gun on a table to shoot.I told him this "collection" we now have going, is what I realized, is the most prized collection of items thats giving us so much fun, and memories. And will continue to do so for me, long after he's gone.
You see, when I was sixteen, he bought me my first firearm; a Winchester 22 cal semi auto rifle. And now, 38 years later, he buys me my first handgun, and now 2 more to boot !!! Seems life really DOES go full circle doesn't it....even with guns !!. I just wanted to share this with you all, and maybe send a message to the younger members on this forum, to spend some time with your parents take em shooting....enjoy them.....while they're still here.
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