Probably will get a few bad looks in English over this. But who gives a shit. Im proud of my father Of course there are always consequences to our actions. Good or bad, big or small, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This is very prevalent in the life of a military man. My father is a retired pilot. Navy pilot. Old school Tomcat and Topgun guy. He is considered one of the greatest fighter pilots of his generation, and is one of a few men to be named an ‘Honorary Marine.’ But it is no surprise that my father would join the military. His father was a Seabee in World War II, Pacific Theatre. Island hopping was a no bull-shit job, and Poppie always referred to the Imperial Army as ‘those Jap Bastards.’ I tend to agree with that summation of the Japanese, even though it is now popular to support and defend the enemies of the United States. But that is for a different discussion. When he was young, my father hunted. He still has many of the rifles he used, but the coolest weapon in his possession is the shotgun his father gave to him. It’s a beautiful weapon; Browning semi-automatic, made in Belgium (they haven’t done that for a very long time). It is decorated with gold inlay, with intricate designs and textures along the natural wood stock and handle. It feels like a glove when shouldered, and trigger pull is unmatched. When a gun is fired, the trigger activates the firing pin, which ignites the powder inside of the cartridge, which is funneled out through the barrel, propelling the projectile(s) outward with a force equivalent to the kinetic energy generated by the powder. It is a violent action, but a common one. Internal combustion is a marvelous thing, as it is still used to power cars, trucks, trains and generators. To harness the power of an explosion and contain it for a specific purpose is an idea that would not be generated in today’s society. That’s where my father comes in. His explosive life has propelled him towards success and the admiration of his friends and family. Something everyone should shoot for. (Get it?) He has harnessed the power of his explosive mentality and lifestyle, the chaotic combustion of the real world, and rode the detonation down the barrel of effort and hit on target. It is sad to say that fewer and fewer men (I use that word lightly) are willing to take risks much like my dad did. It is fairly difficult to fly upwards of 1200 miles per hour into hostile territory and come out okay. But he chose to take the risk and build something beautiful: a legacy of excellence. Much like my grandfather’s shotgun, he comes from a time when well-built meant just that. Something that could take the risk and still operate. But, like every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The recoil of my father’s life comes in the form of military policies. More specifically, the long periods away on cruise and continually having to move. We moved a lot. I have lived in five different states over the period of 21 years, and my father was absent for many months in my youth. We all felt the recoil of my father’s shot into the world. But the great thing about a beautiful weapon is that the recoil is manageable. The Browning is both a weapon and a statement. It can destroy its target and look great doing it. But there is an even more beautiful aspect about it. You can hardly feel the recoil. It is a comforting, abrupt push that reassures you of one thing. That one thing is also the beauty of my family. My three brothers and I are each other’s best friends, much like my mother and father are their best friends. We are always supporting each other, working towards the common goal of success and wisdom. We are moving parts encased in a beautiful layer of comfort and power. We are the firing pin and cocking mechanism. We are the gold inlay and intricate patterns. We are the propellant and the projectile. ` That reassuring push of the recoil is a blessing. That one thing that my family does as well. Our recoil is a sign of something much greater than cohesion, much more significant than propellant. Recoil is a sure sign of something you will hardly see nowadays. The shotguns push into the shoulder means the most reassuring sign any family can ask for. We work.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 17:15:56 +0000
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