Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Born Too Soon (A Little Known Fact About The Easily Influenced Stitcher)

I usually say that I was born too late because I've always been kind of an old soul, but now something has occurred that makes me realize that, in this instance, I have been born too soon.

First of all, let it be known that I don't have much of an interest in sports.  I've always been bad at things like basketball & softball. Look up the word "uncoordinated" in the dictionary & you will find my picture.  I can't even dance!  But one "sporty" thing I really had a talent for was shooting a rifle.  A 22 to be exact.  When I was growing up my parents had a cabin in Marienville, Pennsylvania where we would go every weekend during the summers.  We had a nice piece of ground & to keep me occupied & out of their hair my dad set up a shooting range for me.  I used to shoot a bow & arrow (not good at that) & a 22.  I was extremely good with that 22 shooting at targets & cans.  The kids in neighboring camps even called me Annie Oakley!

I continued to enjoy shooting when I entered high school & jumped at the chance to try out for the school's rifle team when I found out there was one!  I was the only girl who tried out.  Unfortunately I missed the necessary score that would put me on the team by one point.  One point!  Argh!  That's what I was told by the team leader anyway. I suppose back then it could have been a "we don't want girls on our rifle team" kind of thing but I don't think so because everyone seemed pretty excited to see me there.

I don't remember ever shooting again after that.  I didn't go with my parents to the cabin anymore & didn't know anything like shooting clubs or shooting ranges existed. Over the years my love of shooting has never left me.  Sometimes when we are driving somewhere I will see a sign for a rifle range & think how nice it would be to go there.  Then we get home & I sit in my recliner & stitch something or I go take a nap.    

Just a few minutes ago I was visiting a new-to-me blog & the writer of the blog had a feed running for the Olympics & what did I happen to see when I entered this blog?  A promo for womens shooting!  There's a 3-position rifle shooting category!  Be still my heart!  If I had known such a thing existed when I was growing up (not that it existed back then ... it looks like it's a relatively new category just in the past 10 years or so) believe me, I would've been in training for that!  I was so excited seeing this ad that I immediately told John about it & how I would've definitely set my sights on being on the team "if only."  His response was "I don't think there's any age limit in the Olympics."  I said "I can see my face on a cereal box now."  It's fun to think about but of course my eyes aren't what they used to be & I haven't shot a rifle since high school.  It was nice to have a few memories come flooding back to me this morning though, & to fantasize ... if only for a brief moment ... about what might have been   : )

   

10 comments:

geeky Heather said...

I say GO FOR GOLD!!! RIO 2016!!! =)

Seriously, is Kim Rhode cool or what??!?

Anonymous said...

Hi Shirlee

I'm with Heather and say get ready for 2016 and blow them away!

marly said...

Marienville? I remember my parents always mentioning it when they went "up the mountains" to their camp! Someone that we knew had a camp there but since I am directionally challenged, I can't tell you where! Make a dirt mound behind a row of cans in your backyard - you don't need Olympic pressure!

Janet P said...

Can't wait to see you in Rio in 2016!!!

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

Follow your dreams!!!
Prim Blessings
Robin

cucki said...

Yup follow your dreams :)
Big hugs cucki xxx

Vickie said...

ooOoo! Shirlee that is sooo cool! Did you see Kim Rhode talk about her skeet shooting yesterday? We did. She missed ONE out of 100!!! She said,"Well sometimes you just miss one." Wow! She was being serious too. Awesome job! whoo hoo!

Peggy Lee said...

Oh yeah....I say go for it!
A gold medal sure would look good hanging around your neck, huh?

Kaisievic said...

Hi Shirley, I have just learnt something new about you - how fascinating. I was wondering - whose blog was it? I would love to check it out (although I am sure it is not as much fun as yours).

TheCrankyCrow said...

Zoiks....that's just spooky weird. You took our whole "kindred souls" thing up another notch. I LOVE shooting...and was (if I say so myself), a dang good shot.....but archery truly was my first love. And my son inherited both loves and skills - actually, the first time his grandfather saw him shoot a bow (when he was 10 or 11), he took him out and told him to get whatever bow he wanted. In his senior year of high school, some friends begged him to join the skeet team - he ended up placing 2nd in nationals....(and, yes, it's hillbilly heaven here....at any point in time, he goes out back and shoots at cans....I don't mind so much anymore - keeps him spot on with those dang snakes....) Shoot on! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin