She
She holds a strong attraction for me. She always has, but the bond has grown stronger over the time we've spent together.
I remember the first time I held her... Ah, what ecstasy! It was as if we were meant for each other. When I took hold of her, I knew I'd never want to let go, all the more so because she was an experienced hunter.
We went everywhere together, at least on the weekends. She was my constant companion through thick & thin, faithful to the end. She's never failed me. I held her when I took my first deer, and whooped for joy! Such moments are rare and precious. Since that time, she has been my companion on most of my deer hunts. We've taken 13 deer together, not a record, but something to hold dear, nonetheless.
We were reunited recently after several months apart. As I lovingly eyed her graceful, warm curves, she seemed to call out, "hold me!", but I hesitated, basking in her beauty for just a moment before taking her in my hands. Then I picked her up, running my hands over her curves, down to her butt... buttstock, that is. You see, she's a rifle, as you may have guessed.
But she's more than a gun. Affection for guns is hard to explain; you either understand, or you don't. I remember mentioning my "favorite gun" to someone, who asked, "How can you have a favorite gun?" She didn't get it. Me, I ask, "How can you not?" If it shoots, I like it. But I sure do like some better than others!
I guess we hunters are a mixed bag, some of us sentimentalizing over our shooting irons, while to others, they're just tools and nothing more. A relation told me once that he didn't like guns. This is a retired fellow who hunts deer with a rifle from opening day of general gun season in early November in Central Florida, 'til the North Florida season ends in January or February. And he doesn't like guns! He likes "what they can do for him, to get him a deer or to protect him", but he doesn't like the guns themselves. And I know there must be others like him out there, but please, don't tell me - I don't want to know.
I think I need to go and be alone with my rifle now.
-Russ Chastain
Related feature: 01/04/00 - What makes a Gunlover? Some of us just really love guns...
