All In The Family

A long phone conversation with my Dad n' StepMom down in Orlando is always a pleasure. I know tonight's was.

But first, a bit of a gloating. Getting a new gun is always one of life's treats. Especially when it's one you've been looking for after seeing the one you were thinking about buying, get bought out from under you. Like this one.

More on the rifle in a bit. But about those phone calls now.

It doesn't take much to remind me that every one of these calls is a precious treasure. None of us are getting any younger, and my Dad's in consultation with the doctors who at the end of August, are going to close up a dime-sized hole in his heart.

Prayers aplently between now and then, friends, will be greatly appreciated.

Indeed, I'm confident that he'll come through with flying colors. If you knew what he'd been through already, you'd have no doubt that he's been...shall we say "watched over", in every good sense of the word.

And besides, we've all got an appointment at an Orlando shooting range in October. There's a remarkable story here, too. Let me start with Dodie's side of things.

Ever since the early '70s, when I first met Dodie, she had always been on the paficist side of the fence. While not necessarily anti-gun, or gun-fearing, she was surely morally opposed to guns becoming a part of her world.

She was always accepting of my first .22, and in later years the guns I'd carry on road trips with me to Orlando. But she was always glad too, when those guns went back home with me on the return trips.

Well, the events of September 11th, 2001 just plain kicked the stool of pacifism out from under this wonderful, kindest of ladies.

The realities of that day hit hard. Not only in the obvious losses in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, but in her heart and in her mind, too. As she puts it; "Life is precious. My life, your Dad's life and your life, too."

For Dodie, the awakening to the fact that evil people really do want to kill us was a painful dawning. Having years of the belief that "all peoples are reasonable" or that "we're all the same at heart, really", smashed with the speed of a Boeing 757 into a 110 story tower has to hurt.

But it's what we do with the pain that defines who, and what we are.

Dodie stepped up and beat the pain.

Less than two months after the attacks of 9/11, she had decided what she needed to do. And so, the process began.

She announced to my Dad that she had determined to buy, and to learn how to use a gun.

I'm not sure of what discussions ensued after that, but believe me, the gun was bought and professional instruction obtained.

Now then, what of my Dad, you ask? Good question. As he relates to me, after his experiences in the Korean War, he had put paid to any further interest in guns, hunting and related pursuits.

But knowing his wife as only he does, he too joined the quest to find the right gun and to re-learn skills forgotten decades ago. Or, as he put it "I didn't want to be unarmed in the same house with my gun-totin' wife!"*grin*

So, they both pushed through their former idealisms, and chose to face the facts of the world, head-on and without flinching.

But it wasn't easy, that first gun. Dodie tells me that the change of a lifetime's thinking was beyond hard, it was traumatic. After all the classroom instruction, her first range session was with wildly shaking hands, and ending in tears after three or four shots.

This is a woman who did not like guns, or what they represented. But who also put logic ahead of emotions, and pressed on regardless.

And now? They both shoot every Wednesday at a large, very classy indoor range in the Orlando area. Dodie is a consistent 9 ring shooter with her 3" bbl. S&W .357 J-frame. She had got pretty good with her first gun, a Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP, but she's literally shot that pistol to pieces. It's back at the factory for repairs, in fact.

Dad's primary gun is a Glock 9mm, but he's recently bought a twin to Dodie's stainless S&W .357 Mag. It's just so much lighter and easy to carry. And a pleasure to shoot, too.

My Dad's impaired heart limit the rounds fired at the range, but he too is there every Wednesday. Trust me, his shots are all in the "ouch" zone, too.

The guy at the range says to Dodie, (putting his thumbs in his ears while wiggling his fingers), "I wouldn't do this to you from a block away, ma'am!"

Another gent remarked to her as she and Dad were packing up after an hour's shooting; "Did ya have a fun time, today?". I would have loved to seen his face when she told him; "I never have fun here. Every round I fire is deadly serious. That target to me is an advesary, and I aim to kill".

Think about what a change that is for a pacifist. Think about her at that first range session, quitting in tears after a few shots, because she knew what she was there to learn how to do.

A question for you all. Do YOU take your range time this seriously? If not, I submit to you one word. DO.

Its been a bit less than three years since nineteen Arab hijackers changed the world forever. Dodie is now seventy-five years of age. Let me ask you, do you know anyone out there who thinks it's too late to change? Have 'em come read this, okay?

Oh, and that rifle on layaway I gloated about earlier? I'm not the one who has it on hold.

Dodie is. It will be her newest addition to the Orlando Arsenal.

I'll be there in October, and I can't wait to watch her shoot it. And this time, she won't be the one wiping wet stuff out of their eyes.

Like I said a few months ago, I sure do love this Wife of my Father. I love them both, fiercely.

And will, forever.

Comments

[Marcus]

We need more gals like your Dodie, Jim! Kudos to Dodie!!

[Kim du Toit]

Whoa... outstanding. And wotta nice rifle it is, too.
[goes off to sulk]

[Rivrdog]

Your Dodie isn't getting ready to go SASS on us is she? Rossi rifle, lever action, octagon barrel, .38/.357 (a recognized SASS caliber). Hmmm...if she takes riding lessons and starts purchasing her outfits, you might be suspicious. If she asks you to help her with a "western" nickname, you can be sure. Then she will want a Ruger Vaquero or some such SA revolver. (grins)

What a pity. Going from the bright light of SHTF preparation to the "dark side" of Cowboy Action shooting.

It was the octagon barrel that gave her away....

[Bob Baird]

Jim --

Be sure to give me a call when you get to Orlando. I'd like to meet you and your folks.

Bob Baird
(407) ***-**** (#s redacted for security, Jim) my DJJ office. That's the best way to get me usually.

There are several excellent ranges in the Orlando area. Where do your folks go? I like to go to the Shoot Straight range out towards Apopka on 441. If you haven't wandered through that toyland I'll have to take you guys out there.

BB

[Mollbot]

I always take my range time seriously.

But I always have fun too... ne reason you can't combine goals there.

[Mollbot]

*no

[David S]

Ah, another novitiate to the Holy Order of St John M Browning. She's really gonna like that rifle. The Rossi Puma is one of my 'Wish I still had it' guns. I was at an IPSC match a few years ago, and they had a falling plate side match for rifles. I shot it twice, once with a Steyr AUG, and once with my Rossi. Shot faster with the Rossi.

David S.
People's Republic of Austin

[Jay G]

Jim,

Every time I read anything you've written, I come away amazed at what a good man you are. (As well as slightly ashamed at my pitiful writing in comparison to your prose...)

Sounds like you like your dad's wife. A lot. And that's nothing but a good thing.

As far as the new gun, well... I'm picking mine up today (finally). I do have to quibble about one thing, though. Going to the range, while serious stuff indeed, is also loads of fun (pun slightly intended). Yes, a certain amount of shooting is in preparation of (the possibility of) taking a human life. It's serious, heavy stuff.

But you know what? I'd rather send a goblin to his eternal Judgement rather than let my son grow up without his daddy. I'll stand before a judge and the face of God Himself for killing another human if that person was intent of depriving my daughter of her father walking her down the aisle.

I'd rather practice something I hope and pray I never, ever have to use rather than stand helpless and unprepared in the face of evil.

That's why I practice with the carry gun and the "bedside" gun.

I crank out the Ruger Super Blackhawk and blast away for fun and stress relief (try being stressed out about work when you're sending 6 rounds of .44 Magnum goodness downrange at one time...)

And ditto what Bob said if you ever find yourself in the People's Republic of Massachusetts. Not all of us are GFWs...

[Key]

...you must be out playin' with your new toy. ; )

[Guy S.]

Sounds like your dad has quite the lady by his side. Takes a lot of courage to do what she did. And looks like dads son is a chip off the old block. I like the cut of your jib.