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I had promised some time back that I would run the archery range for a big Boy Scout camp this last weekend. Between then and now I managed to twist my knee and retare my rotator cuff, but a promise is a promise so saturday found me teaching scouts how to shoot . When they shut the range down for lunch the fellows helping me headed down to eat. I chose to stay at the range and try to rest my leg as it was really giving me fits. I was setting in a chair when a voice asks " hay Mister, you sleeping?" I replied "Yes" . He asked if he could shoot a bow. I told him the range was closed and that I was not really a Boy Scout guy anyway, so we might get in trouble if he was shooting with just me there. I had never even opened my eyes. After a couple of quite minutes I can feel him looking at me so I open one eye. There stands this little 10 year old kid looking all sad. I set up and ask in my grouchiest voice. "What?"
He started talking 90 miles an hour about how his dad had told him they were going to be shooting bows today but everybody in his group was a lot older and bigger than him so he just sucked at everything, O please couldn't I just show him how to shoot a bow so he would be able to do good at least at one of the stations?
Well I eased up and hopped over to him on my one good leg and just set butt down in the grass and went to work. I figured if the other fellows came back and said anything it would give me an excuse to leave anyway.
We spend a solid hour with me teaching him everything I knew to get an arrow on the target in a hurry. 3 under gun barrel style. By the time the other campers started back from lunch, we had it going on. He cut out before any of his group could see what he was up to.
It was a hour or so before he and his group made it back around. It had been my practice to start at one end of the shooting line and work my way down helping every kid a little , as best I could but not with his group.
I stationed myself right behind him and softly coached him thru all 10 of his arrows. He was so nervous on the first one that it looked like somebody zapped him when it arched up and smacked right in the middle of the target, he shook all over. He never missed a arrow , all 10 in the target. He was proud as a Peacock.
Everyone was 4 or 5 years older and a full head taller, they could run faster and jump higher but by golly he was the only one to have all his arrows in the target.
God bless you, Buff. Fair well with the knee.
That is awesome Marty! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That's all it takes Buff, a stranger shows a kid something that suddenly makes him better than his peers. Next thing you know that kid has a life long obsession. Don't know if I should say "shame on you", or "way to go".
Way to go Buff! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That's awesome! Good on you sir & good luck with your recovery
Great story Buff! Thanks for puttin' the "AWESOME SAUCE" on my ice cream today!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Great stuff Buff ! awesome to hear mate ... :thumbsup:
I bet that kid remembers you the rest of his life!
What Lewis said, well done!
something that young man will remember for the rest of his life and so will you, good job!
That was down right inspiring.
Made my day, where that graemlin with the tear in his eye?
Too cool. Aint it great.
That was great, thank you for sharing
Great story! :thumbsup:
I firmly believe in what goes around comes around. I'd say you need to buy a lottery ticket.
We all thank you for helping out what might have been our kid.
Thanks for helping and hope you heal soon.
:thumbsup:
Good on ya Buff!
Good on you Buff. :clapper:
That is a great story.I'm sure that young man will not soon forget you.
Hope you heal up quick.
Bill
Too cool! Way to go, BUFF! :archer2:
Good on ya Buff.
Great for you and him. :clapper:
Awesome!!!!!! :clapper:
That was great! Good going Buff. That young man will remember you.
:thumbsup:
Great story, thank you
Good on ya! Sometimes the littlest things will make the biggest difference. Heal up fast.
Eric
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :archer2:
Good job!
JAG
Good on you :thumbsup:
I can still remember the first time my father tought me to properly shoot a bow. Congratulations on making a long lasting memory for a youth archer, we need more of them, and people like you
Marty, your knee and shoulder might hurt, but your heart is in great shape. Pass it forward! I've got an 18 year old that I'm starting into trad and everytime he says,"This is way cooler than that other bow I shot", or I see him sneaking out to fling a few arrows, I feel like you did.
Great story. It is always great to show a kid how to shoot a bow. Hopefully this sparked a competive side with the other kids and drove them to learning more.
You gave that young lad something to be proud of.
A seed for his self esteem to grow from.
And in doing so I'll just bet you felt a little stronger too.
Good on you Buff!
Mend yourself up.
Can't have the good ones down.
:thumbsup:
BUFF... You Da Man!!! :thumbsup:
Ya done good!
Great story. Thanks.
That's what I'm talking about, Archers helping a young one start & do really well in our sport.
Thank you...I remember what it was like asking a stranger for lessons.
Fantastic!
Good job, good on you.. Good luck on your physical problems..
Sorry for your pain. But it looks like it slowed you down just enough to be somebodys blessing. Or slowed you down enough to find your blessing. Either way hope it heals soon.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU!!!!!
the kid will never forget that moment!
always great to pass on the torch to the younger ones. :clapper:
Good one Buff. The kid is on his way to maybe a lifetime of fun.
Good for you Buff! And better for the kid!!!
I've got two boys in scouts age 6 and 9 and have been to a bunch of day camps and such where they were "teaching" archery. At one, they bows were the old fiberglass bows with the rubber handle and just a hint of recurve in the tips. The guy teaching had the demo bow strung up backwards! First lull in the class I quietly stepped up and told him about it and he actually tried to argue with me about it. I was able to convince him otherwise and managed to get him off without embarrassment or any of the kids noticing but geeze! I sure wish I had more time available so I could help out like you did. Good on ya.
Great stuff Buff. A priceless moment in that boy's eyes. Job well done.
Thats Great Marty :D :thumbsup:
Good deal Buff,that little guy is going to always remember the big gruff talking man who took the time to help him. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Great read, Marty!
Bisch
Marty,
I started shooting bows and arrows when I was 5, which was 53 years ago, and my first experience was in a group somewhat like the one you helped with. While I didn't have a "grumpy old man" help me out at that first shooting session, I sure would have liked it if someone like you had been there. I still remember the early group shooting sessions even though I don't recall the particular guys who helped teach me, and I am still shooting my bows regularly more than half a century later. I'm not sure what that kid is going to remember specifically about the man who helped him learn to shoot. I can guarantee you he will not think of you as "grumpy", and instead will remember the day someone helped him learn how to beat all the older kids. Hopefully, he will carry that success into every area of his life whether he continues shooting bows or not. As much as we all like to believe that archery is a lifetime activity for everyone, we are actually a tiny segment of the population. However, if archery helps that kid to be better in other areas of his life, then you have accomplished much more than teaching him to shoot a bow and arrow -- you have taught him that he can hit any target that he is willing to work for.
Good for you, Marty. I will pray for healing of your knee and shoulder. I have had both problems and know they are not fun to deal with.
Allan