So a Customer Comes Into The Store Today

[Guest Phantom6]

He tells a few war stories about jumping into France and Belgium during WWII, looks at a few pistols, buys a box of .38 cal ammo and talks of a neighbor lady he wants to bring in because she needs a pistol; a kid as he calls her because she's only 72 years of age. Then he turns to leave. As he begins to head for the door he turns to say...

"I've sure gotten old!

I've had a couple of bypass surgeries, a hip replacement,

new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes.

I'm near blind in one eye, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine,

take 40 different medications that make me dizzy and winded.

I've got poor circulation; hardly feel my left hand or both feet anymore.

Can't remember if I'm 95 or 96 most of the time, I think it's 96. I have lost all my friends.

Thank God, I still have my handgun permit. Hope I see you again, Mike."

"Me too" I called out. He said "What?" "ME TOO" I screamed at the top of my lungs. He gave me a shakey thumbs up and out the door he went.

I love what I do!

[Guest Verbal Kint]

[Guest grimel]

He tells a few war stories about jumping into France and Belgium during WWII, looks at a few pistols, buys a box of .38 cal ammo and talks of a neighbor lady he wants to bring in because she needs a pistol; a kid as he calls her because she's only 72 years of age. Then he turns to leave. As he begins to head for the door he turns to say...

"I've sure gotten old!

I've had a couple of bypass surgeries, a hip replacement,

new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes.

I'm near blind in one eye, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine,

take 40 different medications that make me dizzy and winded.

I've got poor circulation; hardly feel my left hand or both feet anymore.

Can't remember if I'm 95 or 96 most of the time, I think it's 96. I have lost all my friends.

Thank God, I still have my handgun permit. Hope I see you again, Mike."

"Me too" I called out. He said "What?" "ME TOO" I screamed at the top of my lungs. He gave me a shakey thumbs up and out the door he went.

I love what I do!

Mr H? That man is a treasure. Too bad I missed him.

[Luckyforward]

Helluva guy . . . hope I'm in as good a shape at his age

[et45]

Well at least he doesn't have to wear hearing protection when he shoots.

[ShaunM]

Well at least he doesn't have to wear hearing protection when he shoots.

or feel the recoil.

[musicman]

Those guys are what really makes me like gunshops. There were a few (maybe still there, but haven't been back in over a year) at the Reloader's Bench in Mt Juliet all the time. I used to go there just to sit and talk with them. (Really, to listen. I'd ask a question every now and then, too.) I'm young and have never been in the armed forces. I freely admit I am a wuss and a chicken. I love guns and shooting, as long as all the bullets are speeding away from me, and not toward me.

I have a great love and respect for these heroes of America.

[Guest c.a.s.]

Was he the man that was in the day I stopped by, or was this literally today? (Thursday)

I should stop by more often.

I should be dropping by tomorrow for that scope, though don't make any bets on it. It's all about if I can make find the next $8 in change around the house before then and change it in for bills.

[towerclimber37]

great story! nice work mike!

[BigPoppa]

The Greatest Generation

[Guest lobes65]

that's awesome!

[Angus]

God Bless the real men around here......hope I grow up to be like him

[DMark]

He tells a few war stories about jumping into France and Belgium during WWII.....

"ALL THE WAY - - - AIRBORNE!"

[Volzfan]

I agree with Musicman, when you find an old guy like that it is great fun just to sit and listen. I figured out a long time ago that I don't learn near as much when I'm talking but I can learn a lot when I'm just listening.

I spent a couple of hours back on the 4th of July 2007 listening to my wife's uncle while at a BBQ at the in-laws. There were 25 people or so there but he and I were alone. I guess that his sons had heard them all before. He was around 80 and he could tell some stories. Not the kind that made you wonder if he was pulling your leg but the kind that you just knew were true. You could see it in his eyes. That was the last time that I got to spend with Charlie. He died on Aug. 17, 2007.

Everyone needs to find someone like Charlie and just sit, listen and learn. I wish that I could have done that with Marswolf! I know that he could have told some stories and a couple of hours would not have scratched the surface.

[Guest GLOCK2340]

I agree with Musicman, when you find an old guy like that it is great fun just to sit and listen. I figured out a long time ago that I don't learn near as much when I'm talking but I can learn a lot when I'm just listening.

I spent a couple of hours back on the 4th of July 2007 listening to my wife's uncle while at a BBQ at the in-laws. There were 25 people or so there but he and I were alone. I guess that his sons had heard them all before. He was around 80 and he could tell some stories. Not the kind that made you wonder if he was pulling your leg but the kind that you just knew were true. You could see it in his eyes. That was the last time that I got to spend with Charlie. He died on Aug. 17, 2007.

Everyone needs to find someone like Charlie and just sit, listen and learn. I wish that I could have done that with Marswolf! I know that he could have told some stories and a couple of hours would not have scratched the surface.

Man, it seems like I always find these guys at functions and have long conversations with them all by myself. I could listen all day long!! My grandfathers both are like these men, and to me they define what it means to be American.