I've always thought you have to do a lot of work to get to the starting line. I've spent years in school. Practicing in the dojo. I've wondered why they've kept a thoroughbred like me in the back pasture, far away from the starting line. I've run the rat race. I got out. I dreamed my dream life and then I created my dream life. I don't have anything to prove. The world is at my feet, but I'm looking up into the wind. I don't run with the dogs, but I have one. I infiltrate cliches & cliques and then break them. I start fires on the mountain and build the cairns to help you find them. I have been known to stir the pot.
-- an auspicious story--
I picked up my first handgun at the beginning of this month. It is a Walther PP - James Bond's gun. Mine is not new. It's from West Germany and was crafted 17 years ago. It has a smooth blue black finish and a nice heft. I saw it in the case and knew it was mine.
I was an excited teenage girl on her first date when we went to the range. I filled the magazine, hung up the target and put it in place. I slid the magazine in place, racked the slide, raised my hands to aim and pulled my finger to shoot the first bullet.
My silence was fixated on the bullseye. The explosion, there was no kick. But I couldn't believe what I saw. Bullseye!
My very first shot on a clean target - Bullseye. Let me say that again - My first shot with a new gun = Bullseye! BULLSEYE! BULLSEYE! Unbroken target except for the center.
It was not a fluke. I proceeded to empty the magazine in the center circles. All fears I had about owning a firearm dissipated. It's not about politics or aggression or protection or posing to be all bad ass - it's about listening. It's about paying attention. It's the silence before the dive. It's the intention. It's about going someplace you've never gone before.
Welcome to 34 Heather. Here's to a whole year of going someplace you've never gone before: The Mainstream. And doing what you do best there.
Happy Birthday Heather.
Looking forward to what 34 brings.
Posted by: Andrew Warner | January 30, 2008 at 12:03 PM
happy 34th! I remember 34... I think :)
just make sure the safety's on!
H
Posted by: hellyweed | January 30, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Happy birthday! And, congratulations on being an excellent shot. It takes a great deal of focus, concentration, and knowing yourself to shoot that well.
Posted by: Cliff Allen | January 30, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Happy birthday (or 'Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag' as we say in Dutch)
Posted by: Frank | January 30, 2008 at 11:15 PM