Taking Aim

It all started when I was four years old

and had a little fringed cowgirl outfit.

I thought I was Annie Oakley,

but I don't remember actually having a gun.

This year (2014) at the 

Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match,

just outside Forsyth, Montana

I had the fringe,

and I had the boots,

and I had the hat,

AND

I had my own gun.

and it only took six decades!

I can't believe I just said that!

Putting together a fun outfit had been

 in my sights for weeks.
I mostly shopped my closets in both states.
A friend suggested that Crazy Cora, from the movie,
Quigley Down Under,
 wore her corset and a skirt most of the time
(but that was just not an option for me!)

My rifle is a Sharps .45-70

 made and fitted just for me

by C. Sharps Arms

in Big Timber, Montana.

The rifle took 11 months to birth 

and had only been in my possession for a month.

I have the greatest coach and cheerleader 

in the world.  

I took aim at not disappointing him.

There were six targets,

with distances ranging from 350 yards to 805 yards.

We got 8 shots at each target.

Wrap your mind around that girlfriend -

shooting at a buffalo shaped target

 8 (Eight) football fields away

with a 12 pound gun

(through bifocals, cataracts, and floaters
and without a scope!)

Drum Roll......

I hit two out of 8 shots at the buffalo.

I took aim in the wind

I shot in the cold

The only target I missed was in the rain.

Let me rephrase that - 

the only time I didn't hit at least one of the eight targets 

was when I shot in the rain.

Out of 615 shooters,

 my score didn't even get a glance.

However, since my cowboy didn't keep track of his score, 

I can claim the win between the two of us.

There were some of those

"what was I thinking" moments

like when the end of my barrel fell off the sticks,

and when my thumb was raw from pulling the hammer back, 

and I got up off the ground like anything but a lady,

and when I held the gun wrong with the bruise to show it.

But I did it.

Looks like I've come full circle - 

except now 

I'm more like

grANNIE Oakley!!

Here's a crazy quote I saw somewhere:

Shoot for the Moon

If You Miss

You'll at Least Land Among the Stars