Autumn

Autumn

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tomorrow

I hear the wind whisper. The small palm, just outside my office window, gently scrapes it fronds against the screen and it's an eerie sound, yet soothing. The shop is quiet. Swear I just heard a mouse fart.

Sorry for the long absence. No excuses. I just needed a break. As many of you know firearms are my first love - as far as a hobby, but if push came to shove books might edge out firearms. I've taken the last few days, in between chores at home, to read. Once I've taken the dive into a books pages I often find myself lost to all other distractions, and as a result, the blog suffers.

The mood around my home has suffered too. Tomorrow is her birthday. She'll turn eight. We've missed nine (almost ten) months of her seventh year. Yesterday we tried to shop for her birthday. Notice I wrote, tried. We have little information towards likes, dislikes, sizes, needs. Has she outgrown certain toys. Has her taste in dress changed over the last few months. Her foot size is now a mystery to us. And, the most important question of all - does she still care about us.

Influence, if applied directly and with enough force can indeed alter young minds.

With the above in mind, we shopped. She owns a gameboy (at least I believe its called a gameboy) so if she's allowed to accept our gifts she'll have two new games, and other little bits and pieces selected by her Nana. I purchased her a few age appropriate books.

(Edit: Sweet Wife insisted I correct 'gameboy' to 'DS.' Done...now perhaps she'll get off my back.)

It's been a dark weekend.

*****

Yesterday I cleaned a closet in my home office. You know you own 'too' many guns when you find six firearms stuffed far back in a closet (covered and blocked from view) you've forgotten. I swear on all that is Holy.

After I'd removed the first layer of junk I had just enough room to step inside the closet. Six bags of old Christmas paper, scrapes mostly, later and I was able to reach the right side shelves. I spotted a green handgun case. Inside I found an old revolver. I stood there like an idiot, mouth wide open, thinking, 'what 'da heck.'

I also found five long guns. Two or three shotguns and two rifles. I think. One an SKS Albanian. Go figure. Near the back of the closet I found two rather large pieces of art Sweet Wife had stashed. I moved them and behind I stumbled across five full boxes of Estate 12 gauge double ought buckshot, and twenty-five AR magazines, fully loaded. The magazines were a mixture of twenty and thirty rounders.

I'm rich.

I will not mention the other treasures, like for instance the M1A magazines, or the box of surplus ruck sacks, or web gear, stripper clips nor the fifteen or so rifle cases. If I were to mention the long lost items it might make me appear to be somewhat scattered brained - and you know that isn't true.

*****

This,

walked into my shop last week. I took her home. The man wanted forty dollars for her. The graceful old lady is safely tucked inside my safe. She's happy.

She was manufactured in 1936.

Guess.

I shall wring her out next weekend.

Until then,

Stephen

 


31 comments:

  1. Profile wise it reminds me of the Ruger Security Six, but the year isn't right, and I don't think the Ruger was SA.

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    Replies
    1. Russell, she's a Colt Official Police .38. Rare five inch barrel. Thanks, my friend.

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    2. I guess it is not an accident that the Ruger has the general outline of the best selling police revolver of all time.

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    3. True. Two of the most copied handguns in the world are Colt and Smith and Wesson.

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  2. dear sweet one - we all know that you aren't scatterbrained - bahahahah! i am so sorry that you and Sweet Wife are still missing your Little Bit...but i just know that it will get better...soon! we'll be thinking of all of you tomorrow and wishing her a very happy birthday!

    your friend,
    kymber

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sweet kymber. She is missed. Greatly.

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  3. I'm glad you took some time for yourself; reading is a great cure for much that ails us.

    Little Bit will not have forgotten you, nor turned against you. Children are wonderfully resilient, and have an amazing capacity for knowing when an adult is telling falsehoods. Yes, it can happen ... but this time, I suspect it won't.

    Btw, you're NOT absent-minded; just too busy & have too many things on your mind.

    We're all still pulling for you, and praying for you, Sweet Wife, and the whole family.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, my friend. I just worry how she'll react to us if and when we see her.

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  4. I'm like you when I read. I don't dare pick up a book unless I'm ready to be absent from this place for a couple days LOL! Sorry about you and sweet wifes broken hearts over Little Bit. I don't know the whole story since I'm new to your blog, but the situation is sad. I think she's old enough to know her feelings even if she is being persuaded differently, her love for you two is still there and probally stronger than ever. Smile, you found a bunch of treasure in your closet and your man weekend is coming up ☺

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    1. Books are one of my greatest weaknesses. I buy far too many. For the complete story of Little Bit just check the archives. Found those titled 'It's the Little Things.' Some of my longer pieces also tell her story. I can't reread them...yet. It's all here. Thanks, Lovely Kelly...so nice to have you.

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  5. Little Bit will NEVER EVER forget you guys....quit thinking that way.
    I know it is tough.....hang in there.

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    1. Just my time of the month....thanks, my friend. Next weekend...just yell.

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  6. Argghhh... ENVY on that old Colt! :-) And you need to clean out the closet more often... Hope the other situation resolves in a positive manner...

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    1. Thank you, my friend, so do I. She is a nice old Colt.

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  7. Damn X 3.

    Once for the pain in the first section. Again, in envy of your closet treasure find. And finally in lust over the Colt.

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    1. Thanks, my friend. Now, If I can just keep Duke's sticky fingers off my new/old Colt I'll be a happy man.

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  8. Stephen,

    I know Little Bit will be extemely excited with anything you and Sweet Wife get her.

    Now does it feel like Christmas after cleaning out that closet and finding things you haven't touched in a while??

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    Replies
    1. How I felt....old, and forgetful. How does one forget that many firearms....beyond me. Thanks, lovely one,...

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  9. Replies
    1. Thanks, Keads...you have a few nice ones too.

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  10. Nice mags, nice colt and I hope you get to see little bit soon. I just don't understand the turn of events that are keeping you from her and vice versa but I know it sucks.

    Keeping my fingers crossed for you, although I am jealous of finding forgotten about mags and ammo. You suck!!!

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    Replies
    1. Yep, my friends say I suck every time a new gun walks into the shop. Thanks, my friend.

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  11. Happy Birthday Little Bit...I know someday you will read Papa's blog and know the deep love he has for you and shared with all of his readers. May the good Lord bless you and keep you safe until you all are together again.

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  12. If you ever sell your home, the new owners will find guns that you forgot. I am going to have to start calling you the forgetful squirrel.

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    Replies
    1. When it happens (the sell) climb into the attic and check under the insulation.

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  13. I understand the situation you're in. One Christmas, (and all that followed) we realized we had no idea of clothes sizes, shoe sizes, wants, needs, or personality changes. We did the best we could and sent it all to their last known address in a large box. When it finally reached their new address, it was all sent back to us with a smart-assed letter attached. Small minds are able to think up large hurts.

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  14. Last time I tried to clean my closet something in there growled at me. Since then I have decided that its not that dirty. And you will get to see Lil Bit again.

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