Child's word

yankytrash · August 22, 2002, 08:49 PM

I thought this recollection of my evening tonite was too good to only pass on to the VCDL members, so here it is:

"Another little episode in my dinky life. Read if you have time....

Just got back from the Richmond County Fair tonite (Richmond County is my small rural county in the "Northern Neck" of Virginia, not anywhere near the City of Richmond). Had to go to listen to my girls and my wife (also a girl...) sing gospel. I decided it best to wear my VCDL shirt and open carry, as is usual for me in public.

There I am, surrounded by 4 or 5 county's worth of various church patrons, me by myself sitting on a hay bail watching the concert. More than a few church-goers approached me and remarked at what a great job my wife and kids were doing. They were people I've never met, and I was joyed that none of them seemed to regard my 1911 as some sort of "aggresion". With sheriffs and town police milling around the entire fair, there was ample opportunity for someone to screech, "he's got a gun!!!"... and have me led to a patrol car in cuffs for questioning.

My wife's aunts and uncles showed up, and disappeared into the pool of fair patrons for a night of rides and junk food with my girls. After my wife finished singing, we went into the fairgrounds to search for the kids and relatives.

We wandered around, ran into a few old friends. Oddly enough, those were the only ones that really made my firearm an issue of any sorts. I guess they only remember the "old" me, the guy that partied 'til the wee-hours of the morning and would clock a guy for so little as breathing in my general direction, just fo the fun of it. Those times are long gone, and I explained as such. I even pushed a couple women into considering going for their concealed carry lisences.

Well, as the evening pushed on, we finally found our girls, gave our goodbyes to the in-laws, and went for a few rides ourself. We finished the night at a kiddie slide - one of those blow-up monstrosities that only kids are allowed in, with no shoes.

My girls get the slide out of their system, and it's time to put on the shoes. My wife is busy gabbin with an old friend, so I put the shoes on the girls. As I finish tying the last shoe, I look up. There's a young boy I don't know waiting "in line" waving his shoes in my face. He says, "put my shoes on". OK. I sit him down, put his shoes on, and point him to his dad. His dad forces a "Thank you" from the boy, and I feel a tug at my back pocket. I turn, and there's another little boy waving his shoes at me. I sit him down, put the shoes on, and shush him off to his mother. Mom forces yet another, "Thank you" from her child, and up steps, who I assume to be, the last boy's little brother. Again, shoes are waving at me.

Hmm. Well I guess I better put'm on the kid. While I'm tying the shoes, an older (8ish) boy comes close and asks me why I have a gun. I tell him it's to protect me, and whoever else that might need protecting (Sorry Ken, will I ever learn? :-D ). He's oogling at the gun awhile in silence, murmurs a "Cool!!", and gets back in line for the ride.

I finish tying the little boy's shoes, and send him to his waiting mother. Well, what with the media hype as of late with kidnapped children, she's been keeping an understandable close eye on me. I hear her tell the older boy as she turns away, "You need to be more careful. How do you know that man wasn't going to steal you away from me?"

His reply?

"'Cuz he had a gun, momma."

Ya, I know. Long and stupid, but it sure made my evening. Goonite.

- Nigel Mulvena
Tidewater Area Coordinator, Executive Member,
Virginia Citizens Defense League
http://www.vcdl.org"

Blackhawk · August 22, 2002, 09:01 PM

Very nice read. Thanks!

Ed Brunner · August 22, 2002, 09:17 PM

Thank you for sharing that.

kahr Carrier · August 22, 2002, 09:18 PM

Good story.

nemesis · August 22, 2002, 09:20 PM

I liked that.

Standing Wolf · August 22, 2002, 10:02 PM

Thanks for that, eh?

Brian Gibbons · August 22, 2002, 10:03 PM

Try and get that published somewhere ...

nsf003 · August 22, 2002, 10:07 PM

Quote:

"'Cuz he had a gun, momma."

Great quote.

nsf

Blackhawk · August 22, 2002, 10:12 PM

Been smilin' about this for about an hour now. Isn't it neat how children are so trusting and ingenuous? If they need something in a safe environment, they just come up and let you know.

We were walking from the car to a convention center with about 7,000 people expected to attend and encountered a girl of about 8 with a very troubled look on her face. I said "Are you all right?" She immediately began bawling and saying she couldn't find her mother. After concluding they must have been separated at the entrance, we told her we'd help her find her lost mother. That girl attached herself to us like a wet t-shirt, but I was thinking "How are we going to find one woman in this crowd."

Like a good mama, she was at the last place she saw her daughter, and all was well.

Kids are great. Too bad this is such a rotten time to grow up in....

Hkmp5sd · August 22, 2002, 10:18 PM

Quote:

and my wife (also a girl...)

Glad you cleared that question up!

labgrade · August 22, 2002, 10:21 PM

Neat l'il story, yankytrash. A bit of Americana & Norman Rockwell.

Paul K · August 22, 2002, 11:06 PM

that made my day

Tommy.Gun · August 22, 2002, 11:42 PM

Rock on!!

C.R.Sam · August 22, 2002, 11:59 PM

Thanks YankyTrash. A day brightener.

Sam

Derka · August 23, 2002, 02:41 AM

After reading that and ending the day on a good note I think I'll go to sleep now.

Apple a Day · August 23, 2002, 05:23 AM

There's one for the next Defender issue.

Mike in VA · August 23, 2002, 07:28 AM

Yeah, buddy

MuzzleBlast · August 23, 2002, 08:03 AM

"Cuz only good guys carry 1911's!"

Edward429451 · August 23, 2002, 08:06 AM

Kids say the darnest things! We should listen to the kids more. They spout innocent wisdom. Its the older edjumacated folks that got it all wrong. Thanks for sharing.

How come most humans below the age of accountability are so smart and most humans beyond the age of accountability are so dung, I mean dumb!

Hemicuda · August 23, 2002, 08:21 AM

One thing I have noticed is that kids are a great judge of character... and they pick it up VERY fast... almost instantly...

Goodonya, yanktrash, and thanks for sharing that one!

Betty · August 23, 2002, 09:10 AM

That's cute!

**4V50 Gary** · August 23, 2002, 10:50 AM

Thank you Yankytrash for the best story involving kids this year.

AC's & 45's · August 23, 2002, 12:21 PM

Groovy!!

buzz_knox · August 23, 2002, 12:24 PM

You just made my day.

UK2TX · August 23, 2002, 08:33 PM

Hello yankytrash,

Heart warming, thanks.

Regards,

UK2TX

August 22, 2002, 08:49 PM	#1
yankytrash Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2001 Location: Farnham, Va Posts: 2,176	Child's word I thought this recollection of my evening tonite was too good to only pass on to the VCDL members, so here it is: "Another little episode in my dinky life. Read if you have time.... Just got back from the Richmond County Fair tonite (Richmond County is my small rural county in the "Northern Neck" of Virginia, not anywhere near the City of Richmond). Had to go to listen to my girls and my wife (also a girl...) sing gospel. I decided it best to wear my VCDL shirt and open carry, as is usual for me in public. There I am, surrounded by 4 or 5 county's worth of various church patrons, me by myself sitting on a hay bail watching the concert. More than a few church-goers approached me and remarked at what a great job my wife and kids were doing. They were people I've never met, and I was joyed that none of them seemed to regard my 1911 as some sort of "aggresion". With sheriffs and town police milling around the entire fair, there was ample opportunity for someone to screech, "he's got a gun!!!"... and have me led to a patrol car in cuffs for questioning. My wife's aunts and uncles showed up, and disappeared into the pool of fair patrons for a night of rides and junk food with my girls. After my wife finished singing, we went into the fairgrounds to search for the kids and relatives. We wandered around, ran into a few old friends. Oddly enough, those were the only ones that really made my firearm an issue of any sorts. I guess they only remember the "old" me, the guy that partied 'til the wee-hours of the morning and would clock a guy for so little as breathing in my general direction, just fo the fun of it. Those times are long gone, and I explained as such. I even pushed a couple women into considering going for their concealed carry lisences. Well, as the evening pushed on, we finally found our girls, gave our goodbyes to the in-laws, and went for a few rides ourself. We finished the night at a kiddie slide - one of those blow-up monstrosities that only kids are allowed in, with no shoes. My girls get the slide out of their system, and it's time to put on the shoes. My wife is busy gabbin with an old friend, so I put the shoes on the girls. As I finish tying the last shoe, I look up. There's a young boy I don't know waiting "in line" waving his shoes in my face. He says, "put my shoes on". OK. I sit him down, put his shoes on, and point him to his dad. His dad forces a "Thank you" from the boy, and I feel a tug at my back pocket. I turn, and there's another little boy waving his shoes at me. I sit him down, put the shoes on, and shush him off to his mother. Mom forces yet another, "Thank you" from her child, and up steps, who I assume to be, the last boy's little brother. Again, shoes are waving at me. Hmm. Well I guess I better put'm on the kid. While I'm tying the shoes, an older (8ish) boy comes close and asks me why I have a gun. I tell him it's to protect me, and whoever else that might need protecting (Sorry Ken, will I ever learn? :-D ). He's oogling at the gun awhile in silence, murmurs a "Cool!!", and gets back in line for the ride. I finish tying the little boy's shoes, and send him to his waiting mother. Well, what with the media hype as of late with kidnapped children, she's been keeping an understandable close eye on me. I hear her tell the older boy as she turns away, "You need to be more careful. How do you know that man wasn't going to steal you away from me?" His reply? "'Cuz he had a gun, momma." Ya, I know. Long and stupid, but it sure made my evening. Goonite. - Nigel Mulvena Tidewater Area Coordinator, Executive Member, Virginia Citizens Defense League http://www.vcdl.org" __________________ Right turn, Clyde.

August 22, 2002, 09:17 PM	#3
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,574	Thank you for sharing that. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

August 22, 2002, 09:18 PM	#4
kahr Carrier Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2002 Posts: 368	Good story. __________________ " Have gun will travel" Springfield if your listening make a 10mm 1911.

August 22, 2002, 10:02 PM	#6
Standing Wolf Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 745	Thanks for that, eh? __________________ No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.

August 22, 2002, 11:42 PM	#13
Tommy.Gun Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2000 Posts: 548	Rock on!! __________________ ------------------------------- -------------------------------- You have disarmed me, you are now responsible for my safety. If any harm comes to me or my party you and your employer will be sued. Disarming innocent people does not protect innocent people, the yet unlearned lesson of September 11th.

August 22, 2002, 09:01 PM	#2
Blackhawk Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2001 Posts: 5,053	Very nice read. Thanks!

August 22, 2002, 09:20 PM	#5
nemesis Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2002 Location: Texas, on the border Posts: 846	I liked that.

August 22, 2002, 10:03 PM	#7
Brian Gibbons Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2001 Posts: 388	Try and get that published somewhere ...

August 22, 2002, 10:12 PM	#9
Blackhawk Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2001 Posts: 5,053	Been smilin' about this for about an hour now. Isn't it neat how children are so trusting and ingenuous? If they need something in a safe environment, they just come up and let you know. We were walking from the car to a convention center with about 7,000 people expected to attend and encountered a girl of about 8 with a very troubled look on her face. I said "Are you all right?" She immediately began bawling and saying she couldn't find her mother. After concluding they must have been separated at the entrance, we told her we'd help her find her lost mother. That girl attached herself to us like a wet t-shirt, but I was thinking "How are we going to find one woman in this crowd." Like a good mama, she was at the last place she saw her daughter, and all was well. Kids are great. Too bad this is such a rotten time to grow up in....

August 22, 2002, 10:21 PM	#11
labgrade Senior Member Emeritus Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,356	Neat l'il story, yankytrash. A bit of Americana & Norman Rockwell.

August 22, 2002, 11:06 PM	#12
Paul K Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 565	that made my day

August 22, 2002, 11:59 PM	#14
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,876	Thanks YankyTrash. A day brightener. Sam

August 23, 2002, 02:41 AM	#15
Derka Member Join Date: May 3, 2002 Location: Orem, UT Posts: 36	After reading that and ending the day on a good note I think I'll go to sleep now.

August 23, 2002, 05:23 AM	#16
Apple a Day Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Location: Poquoson,Virginia Posts: 1,452	There's one for the next Defender issue. __________________ THose who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules. Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

August 23, 2002, 07:28 AM	#17
Mike in VA Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1998 Location: Santa FE, NM Posts: 2,165	Yeah, buddy __________________ M2 The Second Amendment IS homeland defense!

August 23, 2002, 08:03 AM	#18
MuzzleBlast Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2001 Location: Arkansas. Much better place since Bill and Hillary went home. Posts: 945	"Cuz only good guys carry 1911's!" __________________ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArkansasShooters/ Molwn labe!

August 23, 2002, 08:06 AM	#19
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 5,981	Kids say the darnest things! We should listen to the kids more. They spout innocent wisdom. Its the older edjumacated folks that got it all wrong. Thanks for sharing. How come most humans below the age of accountability are so smart and most humans beyond the age of accountability are so dung, I mean dumb! __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

August 23, 2002, 08:21 AM	#20
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,759	One thing I have noticed is that kids are a great judge of character... and they pick it up VERY fast... almost instantly... Goodonya, yanktrash, and thanks for sharing that one! __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

August 23, 2002, 09:10 AM	#21
Betty Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2000 Location: southern U.S. Posts: 1,774	That's cute!

August 23, 2002, 10:50 AM	#22
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: California Posts: 13,263	Thank you Yankytrash for the best story involving kids this year. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 23, 2002, 12:21 PM	#23
AC's & 45's Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2000 Location: Mid, Mo Posts: 403	Groovy!! __________________ Common sense is not something you can aquire. You must be born with it. So, you either have it or you don't!

August 23, 2002, 12:24 PM	#24
buzz_knox Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 1999 Location: Knoxville, in the Free State of Tennesse Posts: 4,194	You just made my day.

August 23, 2002, 08:33 PM	#25
UK2TX Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 274	Hello yankytrash, Heart warming, thanks. Regards, UK2TX