So there i was last evening, sitting flat on my butt, legs extended, shooting my 70" Hill Panther, with an arrow in the target just off center of the spot that i picked at about 18 yrds, when my thoughts took me back more than 30 yrs, to an Old man, a longbow and apple flavored tobacco.
Kinda funny how something as simple as sitting on your butt in the wet grass can trigger your memory, but at that point in time my mind wandered back to the old gentleman that started me on this wonderful journey.
30 plus yrs ago, as usual i was at our local range, shooting, adjusting, shooting adjusting and trying to achieve perfection with my compound bow when an older gentleman drove down the lane in his station wagon to the range.
Upon arrival, he pulled out his gear which consisted of nothing more than a Hill style bow and an old back quiver full of arrows, which was in huge contrast to my bow, tool box, hard shell case, stabilizers, sights, release, ETC... and proceeded to absolutely impress the Hell! out of me with his shooting skills.
After shooting, and retrieving his arrows a few times he stated that it was time to take a break, and with that hung his gear on one of the bow hangers and took a seat on one of the benches behind the shooting line and fired up his pipe.
Never one to be bashful, or afraid of trying something different, i figured since he was taking a break, this might be a good opportunity to ask to try his longbow, and following my request came a very gracious, " help yourself, shoot it all you want".
Not knowing where this was going to lead, i grabbed the bow and arrows and marched to the shooting line, and with an old glove that i dug out of my tool box, and no clue what i was doing, I nocked an arrow, drew, never hit anchor and released, upon release, the arrow took flight as well as the bow! in shock and horror i watched as the bow bounced end over end and landed in the dirt.
Expecting the worst butt chewing of my life, but not getting it, the old man spoke up and said, go pick it up and try it again," this time, hang on to it", and with that, i picked it up and shot for nearly 2 hrs, with instruction from the kind old gentleman, sitting on the bench, smoking his pipe, filled with apple flavored tobacco.
After that encounter, i never saw him again, or learned his name, but the impact that he has made on me will last a lifetime, and i am forever grateful, and just in case he is reading this, i want to say Thank You! for the journey and many yrs. of pleasure that i have received from taking the traditional path and not the compound path that was and is, the more popular path in the archery community today.
A kind act from an Old man, with a longbow smoking a pipe with apple flavored tobacco, will never be forgotten, and someday i hope i can pass on this fine gift as he did, some 30 plus yrs ago.
reminds me of the story of the old man teaching me to use the old baitcasting reels... still have the reel he gifted me dont use that old knuckle buster anymore but still have it
Cool story bud. I betcha when that bow went flying from your hand your heart leaped into your throat didn't it. I hope your season is succesful God Bless
Don'y get any better than that right there.
Being a compound shooter, depending on a sling, shooting a loose grip, and having no clue that a longbow has a thump to it, the thought of gripping it never crossed my mind.
Awesome story!!
:clapper: :clapper:
THAT was a great story! :clapper:
Just goes to show that even a brief encounter can potentially have a great impact on someone's life.
What a great memory!
:thumbsup: way cool
:thumbsup: :campfire:
That is a cool story! Thanks :)
Thanks for sharing that memory..Sounds like a great fella ... :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing that memory.
You took us all there.
Thanks. :thumbsup:
What a great memory..Thank you very much for sharing with us...Mike
Cool stuff. Its about life..., good life!
As you get older you should turn into that old man and help younger shooters. Pass it on, thats what its all about.
Thank you for the story Moleman, it was very moving and inspirational
Great story and well told! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
Man that was cool!
Great memories........... :jumper: :archer2:
:thumbsup:
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing.
Great story. I hope I can leave a positive impact on someone like that.
Really something to remember!
What a great story. I got a kick out of it...as I'm gettin old, shoot a longbow,...and chew apple flavored tobacco......: > )
What a great story. I got a kick out of it...as I'm gettin old, shoot a longbow,...and chew apple flavored tobacco......: > )
Great story! I could see that bow bouncing along in my mind and my heart skipped a beat for you even though it happened 30 years ago.
You have a good heart. I suspect that one of these days you will be the Old man,with his longbow and you'll pass it on. The circle will then be complete.
You have a good heart. I suspect one of these days you'll become the Old man and his longbow and you'll pass it on. The circle will then be complete.
Very cool story.
Thats too cool. :thumbsup:
Reminds me of an old man I met on a stream in Montana. I was just learning to fly fish and I couldn't get the line through the small fly eyelet. He tied my fly on as he smoked his pipe and told me if I needed glasses to not be vain and get some. He sent me to the stream below us and I caught a nice rainbow. I will never forget him. We can all learn from our elders - now I am one.
Cool story. Imagine how awesome it would be if you got a response that said, "Yep, I remember that day, too, couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry."
I absolutely love this kind of real life experience. Thanks for sharing!
Maybe we can all work a little at being that "ol' man".
Great story,thanks for sharing...............
Well said Roughrider! Whenever interest is shown, we should all be willing to share what we know.
As we get older and gain experience, the greatest gift that we have to share is knowledge,.....Pass it on.
Be that man to another, in this sports and/ or others. It is how the tradition is handed down. You have no idea how blessed that man felt -you made a memory for him, too.
Sometimes, teaching is as simple as that. Let them learn. Once someone tries something. . they may actually like it ! It's the trying that is tough.
Thanks
ChuckC
Cool story. I like letting others, especially new people shoot my bows. Never know the outcome
Neat story!
Great story Thanx. for sharing it
QuoteOriginally posted by braveraven:
You have a good heart. I suspect that one of these days you will be the Old man,with his longbow and you'll pass it on. The circle will then be complete.
I was thinking much the same. Karma is a good thing.
John
Man that was a awesome story and a memory that will lasy a life time , thank you for sharing it with us .
Great memory and story, thanks.
Thanks for a great story.
That was a great tale! It is amazing how such little incidents in life can have a long lasting effect! Thanks for sharing that!
Mike
Great memory! Thanks for sharing.
Nice, really nice. Sure is funny how a little can go a long ways.
Great story. I'm sure his day was a little better because of you also. I hope to be able to pay it forward like that someday.
Moleman, Great story. If I can influence just one person to take up the pleasure of a REAL bow, my life will be complete.