Note to self: Be more careful what you do.
Outdoor Life has this feature called “My Favorite Gun,” where readers write in with paeans to their fancy deer rifles or over-under shotguns or whatever, and they’re always shiny fudd guns and it annoys me.
And I seem to recall thinking, how come nobody’s favorite gun is a real working gun? How come it’s always a Benelli or an elephant gun or some heirloom that’s never rattled around in the back of a truck?
So I wrote this, and submitted it before I slept on it and changed my mind – didn’t even take another picture that was in focus – and damned if they didn’t publish it anyway.
When I read the phrase “cedar rat” I thought “Hey, I know that guy!”
You write pretty good for a drunk. 🙂
But then, when you consider the number of drunken writers who’ve won Nobels, Pulitzers, and millions of readers, being a drunk is almost a qualification for good writing.
Seriously, nice work. Joel. Well done. I hope they paid you. (That’s something else writers the world over, and not just drunken ones, esteem highly.)
I’m with you regards all the hipster guns. As for me it’s a simple 12 gauge Douglas Arms (Norinco) double barrel coach gun with 12 inch barrels and exposed hammers.It is a legal Lupara that fits nicely into my rucksack when I go camping in bear country.
New England’s Firearms, SB1, in 12ga. Have dragged it all over AZ chasing bunnies and birds,
I’m thinking: you revealed more of yourself than you had planned to, and now you’re embarrassed by your candor. Most of us who write because we feel we have to, other than that because we have deadlines to meet, have shared that experience.
I suspect that those who write as professionals have found themselves in that same shameful situation.
Don’t worry about it. I enjoyed the article, and I suspect that others did, too. You have an unique lifestyle which most of us just don’t have the courage to embrace. It just might turn out that your life duty is to make the rest of us feel lame because we can’t do the things you do every day.
(Example: I spent over $1,000 for a washer/dryer because I couldn’t imagine having to do my laundry by hand!)
So, just keep on doing what you’re doing. I rarely miss a day without checking in to see what your adventure last imposed on you. My personal opinion is that you are one of the most interesting bloggers extant.
A couple years ago, some ‘new chums’ who just found my blog said:
“I can’t believe that you reveal so much of your personal live to the world!”
I think that’s what Blogging is all about.
There’s no shame in being yourself. And as someone else said, you write purty good for a drunk.
Maybe you should share the name of your favorite tipple; it’s obviously more creative that the rotgut I drink.
I thought that was a great description of why that particular gun is so useful. Well done.