My friend Joey suggested adding this one to the list and it made it in just under the wire. In fairness, Joe had suggested several items, but most tended toward the ridiculous (swim with polar bears, really?). But he made a strong case for this one, and on the list it went.
I have never shot a gun before, well, as long as we aren’t counting bb guns. Guns actually scare me a bit. I’ve never been a fan of loud noises—or deadly weapons for that matter. I put this one on the list because why not? This list is all about trying new things. And in the off chance I’m ever holding a gun between me and an attacker, I’m sure I would like to know how to use it.
While at my Uncle’s house this past weekend the topic of handguns came up, and when Karl found out it was on the list, a target was quickly put up and ammo brought out. And I was grateful to try this with a trusted instructor, versus feeling like an out of place idiot at a gun range.
First I shot a .22 revolver. I was nervous, not knowing what to expect as far as noise and force once I pulled the trigger. I carefully took aim and fired. And I hit my target, only about an inch down from the bullseye! I fired a few more rounds with the .22 revolver, improving almost every time. Then Karl switched me over to a .22 semi automatic target pistol. The words “semi automatic” are a bit daunting, but I took aim and fired again. Once again I hit my target consistently. At this point I was feeling overly confident, but it was short lived.
My uncle handed me a snubnose .38, and told me I would only be shooting this gun once. He also warned me this one would be much louder than the previous two. I didn’t realize to what extent. Since I only had one shot, I lined up my target, steadied my hands, and did my best to squeeze the trigger smoothly. The resulting sound terrified me. I heard a high pitch ringing, but everything else was muffled and distant. I immediately shied away and handed the gun back to my uncle. I could hear Kevin and Mom laughing, but it sounded like they were under water. I instantly understood those slow motion drama scenes in war movies, where the confused hero loses hearing after a gun is shot too close by.
All in all, I learned I’m a pretty good shot. And perhaps most satisfying, Kevin finally admitted that I might be good at archery—a little known fact I shared with him on our first date and a point of contention between us ever since. But you read it here first… I am both an archery ace and a crack shot!
9 down; 21 to go
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