Shoot a Gun

     I have shot a dirty look.  I have shot a photograph.  I have never shot a gun.  They scare me.  Petrify me actually...I grew up in the Bronx, remember?  Now line me up with some quarters at the old timey shootin' range at the amusement park and I'm a happy girl...since I was old enough to line up my sights.  Give me a video game with some ducks and I'm not so bad.  But the real deal? Nah...scared to death on top of the fact that I don't have the need for a gun.   I am a peaceful soul who wishes hugs worked instead of any type of violence.
     Enter Suzan.  She is my buddy...a great mom...a wonderful wife...a sweet and kind person.  She suggested Ladies' Night at the range and I accepted the challenge with vigor.  I knew it would push me so far out of my comfort zone that the adrenaline would be pumping.  I was right.  I also pulled Leigh Ann along for the ride.  Ironically, the same breathing and concentration needed for her meditation was needed for this skill as well.  The instructor was correct...you can only think about one thing when you are shooting.  For three ladies whose brains never stop spinning this "violent" activity was actually quite calming. 
     The one hour of education was extremely informative.  I got to say words like "glock" and "clip" which after so many cop and action movies was kind of exciting in itself.  I learned the parts of the gun, touched bullet casings, reviewed old physics principles and heard some very interesting stories.  We were taught safety.  We were also taught that the gun isn't the danger...the person holding it is and though I knew this...it really gave me a different perspective.  Then it was off to the range.
     We loaded our bullets into the clip and popped it into the .22 before taking our stance.  Targets were loaded.  Eyes were protected.  Ears were safe.  After learning how to breathe and squeeze as well as how to compensate for my cross eye dominance...I had my first shot.  Bam...right in the middle of my target sheet!  About 17 or so shots later with a few different distances I had calmed down.  The sweating had subsided and the adrenaline returned to a somewhat normal level.  I also hit my targets quite nicely so all of those amusement parks and video games finally paid off. 
     We left with a brand new knowledge.  We left having done something out of the ordinary for so many.  We left empowered.  We didn't get to do the Charlie's Angels pose but I bet inside our heads we all had a little moment of badass!