Scars and Arrows-An Overature (Will "William Tell"?)
HELLO GENTLE READERS:
Ever been shot by an arrow? I have!
I have a pedigree in Archery. In the mid-sixties, my dad was the "Ben Pierson Archery Champion" in the Mid-Atlantic region. I once saw him light a kitchen match with an arrow at 25 paces. He was good!
You'd think I'd be pretty good too. Not so! I couldn't hit an 18-wheeler if I were standing in it's shadow! This proclivity must skip a generation.
To correct this defect, my dad started a Saturday morning Archery school at the Community Center multi-purpose building. At 10:00 am every Saturday, about fifteen rowdy 10-year olds would gather, set up bales of staw, notch their arrows, whoop and let fly! There were more arrows in the air than in the battle scene of 300 Spartans!
One Saturday I was trying, with my usual lack of success, to hit the target. "Move closer," said dad. I tried again. "Closer"! Again no luck. "Move up, son", he said. By now I was so close I could see the manufacturer's logo on the baling wire! I screwed up my concentration, notched an arrow, sighted down, said a prayer and shot! Owww! The next thing I know there's an arrow sticking out of the crook of my elbow. It wasn't there at breakfast! Good Lord! I've shot myself! A self-inflicted arrow wound. The arrow had bounced off of the stage apron right back at me.
The pain I could take, but the humilation was something else. In front of my friends! It really turned out OK, though. All the 10-year olds thought an arrow wound was pretty cool.
Dad had to close the school. All the 10-year olds wanted "arrow scars".
Tom Vickers
Leave a Comment
TheJoeD on
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Ha! Ha! Man, I used to love archery class. My gym partner was the hottest girl in school. What kind of a guitar is that? |
tvsgweblog on
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That's a Guitar Research 100 year Anniversary Jazz Model. I also have a custom "Tele" a Taylor 413CE a Les Paul and a coupla' Martins. I have no mental defenses when it comes to guitars, mandolins, banjos and keyboards. |
mikelclassen on
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Archery is one of my strong suits. I'm a level 27 in my D&D game. Orcs everywhere beware. |
