Wow....
What a weekend! I've got to say, there is no better way to spend your birthday than at an Appleseed with the best kind of people there are. My Appleseed family (both instructors and attendees) made this weekend one of the best events I've been to.
First I want to thank Jack for the use of his Lone Pine Range. Jack, I just love doing Appleseed there at Medical Lake. Beautiful location, great facilities, wonderful people. Thank you!
Thank you to all the attendees who came out to brave the heat and made the weekend a success. I'm looking forward to seeing you all back at an Appleseed. Bring along a friend!
Mr. Peterson, it was great to see you out on the line again.
MacArthur, Erik, congratulations on those Rifleman patches!
Now that the pressure is off, work on beating your own record!
Alex, you're almost there with those 190's! You'll get it. I know what it's like to be the only non-rifleman in the family!
Mrs. Peterson, thank you so much for everything. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with you on the line. Congrats on re-qualifying! Thank you for making a point of being there for this special weekend, and thanks for bringing the cake! Looking forward to working with you again soon!
Rana.... you showed me what real persistence is. You went from being afraid of guns in general to having a blast with that 10/22. Going from AQT scores on Saturday of 120's to shooting a
194 on Sunday just goes to show your persistence and willingness to listen, learn, and put into practice what that Evenstar person was telling you.
Thank you so much for putting up with me. You were fantastic; you'll have that patch in no time. I hope to see you on the line again soon.
This quote from you is one I'll never forget: "I really used to hate guns.... but I LOVE that there rifle!!!!"
Kiddos: Lauryn, Megan, Sam, Isaac, Hayden, Trevor, you little ones are future Rifleman. I just love seeing your progress!
Instructors....
What can I say? Thank you all so much for making it to Medical Lake. Having each of you there meant a lot. You all have helped me along my Appleseed Trail in one way or another. ALL of you. Thank you.
RL, congrats on that purple patch!
Heather, happy birthday to you too.
Thanks for bringing more cake!
Scott, thanks so much for letting me borrow the camera; I thoroughly enjoy practicing with it! Thank you for letting me shoot not one, but TWO AQT's with your M1A. THAT was fun, even if I nearly got knocked backwards by the recoil in standing.
Earl.... thank you. Thank you for making the 5+ hour drive over from the 'wet side'. This shoot took me back to the 'old days' of Appleseed in CdA where the lines were so full that people were playing footsies in prone, when the line was mostly centerfire, when you persisted in working on me to get on that line, shoot a Rifleman score, and take on the orange hat. You did it, Earl. I cannot thank you enough for convincing me to get involved in Appleseed. I have never looked back. Even though you may be too modest to admit it, you have taught me most of what I know of being an instructor. And it meant everything to me for you to give me that red hat. Thank you. I'll see you on the Trail. (Oh, and Riflemen DO cry. Sometimes.)
To those instructors who couldn't be there but have helped me in many ways along the Trail and in bettering myself as a person (and you know who you are), THANK YOU. You may have been missing this weekend, but you were right there in spirit.
Wonderful shoot.
I am blessed.
(Pictures soon.)
