Reflection always enriches an experience and that has certainly been true of this one.
Gratifying to see that our previous discussions of basic safety rules bore fruit. In the photo, the gun is unloaded (we checked), his finger is off the trigger and the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction (without a reminder). That is very gratifying.
The simple richness of sitting on the tailgate on a glorious high plains morning and wondering what Grandma packed in the snack bag for us. And then after we’ve dug in, thinking out loud about our excitement over what the morning holds.
Wondering what it says about our manufacturing quality that the 100+ year old gun saves the day when the new one lets us down.
Living in a land where we can own and freely use firearms, especially those that have been held and shot by the generations who came before. That legacy is priceless and must be preserved.
The encouraging discovery that he naturally recognized the distinct challenge of hitting a moving target. I’ll not be discouraging thoughts of “running deer” but I will be encouraging him toward the indescribable joy of shooting flying.
And the power of testimony. His Dad called on his way home from work last evening to say he’s been telling (and retelling) his family all that that special morning held.
I need not forget any of this and give thanks.