BearK Loc: TN

Don't know who wrote this but he has a way with words that makes one visualize being right there beside him. Good read. Life as a child growing up in Oklahoma .....

Around age 10 my dad got me one of those little badass compound bow beginner kits. Of course, the first month I went around our land sticking arrows in anything that could get stuck by an arrow. Did you know that a 1955 40 horse Farmall tractor tire will take 6 rounds before it goes down? Tough sumbich.

That got boring, so being the 10 yr. old Dukes of Hazard fan that I was, I quickly advanced to taking strips of cut up T-shirt doused in chainsaw gas tied around the end and was sending flaming arrows all over the place.

One summer afternoon, I was shooting flaming arrows into a large rotten oak stump in our backyard. I looked over under the carport and see a shiny brand new can of starting fluid (Ether). The light bulb went off in my head. I grabbed the can and set it on the stump. I thought that it would probably just spray out in a disappointing manner. Let’s face it, to a 10 yr old mouth-breather like myself, (Ether), really doesn't "sound" flammable.

So, I went back into the house and got a 1 pound can of pyrodex (black powder for muzzle loader rifles). At this point, I set the can of ether on the stump and opened up the can of black powder. My intentions were to sprinkle a little bit around the (Ether) can but it all sorta dumped out on me. No biggie, a 1 lb. pyrodex and 16 oz (Ether) should make a loud pop, kinda like a firecracker you know? You know what? Screw that I'm going back in the house for the other can. Yes, I got a second can of pyrodex and dumped it too. Now we're cookin'.

I stepped back about 15 ft and lit the 2 stroke arrow. I drew the nock to my cheek and took aim.
As I released I heard a clunk as the arrow launched from my bow. In a slow motion time frame, I turned to see my dad getting out of the truck... OH SHOOT!

He just got home from work. So help me God it took 10 minutes for that arrow to go from my bow to the can. My dad was walking towards me in slow motion with a WTF look in his eyes. I turned back towards my target just in time to see the arrow pierce the starting fluid can right at the bottom. Right through the main pile of pyrodex and into the can. Oh shoot.

When the shock wave hit it knocked me off my feet. I don't know if it was the actual compression wave that threw me back or just reflex jerk back from 235 fricking decibels of sound. I caught a half a millisecond glimpse of the violence during the initial explosion and I will tell you there was dust, grass, and bugs all hovering 1 ft above the ground as far as I could see. It was like a little low to the ground layer of dust fog full of grasshoppers, spiders, and a worm or two.

The daylight turned purple. Let me repeat this... THE FRICKING DAYLIGHT TURNED PURPLE. There was a big sweetgum tree out by the gate going into the pasture. Notice I said "was". That sumbich got up and ran off.

So here I am, on the ground blown completely out of my shoes with my thundercats T-Shirt shredded, my dad is on the other side of the carport having what I can only assume is a Vietnam flashback:

ECHO BRAVO CHARLIE YOU'RE BRINGIN' EM IN TOO CLOSE!! CEASE FIRE. DAMN IT CEASE FIRE!!!!!

His hat has blown off and is 30 ft behind him in the driveway. All windows on the north side of the house are blown out and there is a slow rolling mushroom cloud about 2000 ft. over our backyard.
There is a Honda 185 3 wheeler parked on the other side of the yard and the fenders are drooped down and are now touching the tires.

I wish I knew what I said to my dad at this moment. I don't know - I know I said something. I couldn't hear. I couldn't hear inside my own head. I don't think he heard me either... not that it would really matter. I don't remember much from this point on. I said something, felt a sharp pain, and then woke up later. I felt a sharp pain, blacked out, woke later....repeat this process for an hour or so and you get the idea. I remember at one point my mom had to give me CPR. and Dad screaming "Bring him back to life so I can kill him again". Thanks Mom. One thing is for sure... I never had to mow around that stump again, Mom had been complaining about that thing for years and dad never did anything about it. I stepped up to the plate and handled business..

Dad sold his muzzle loader a week or so later. I still have some sort of bone growth abnormality, either from the blast or the beating, or both. I guess what I'm trying to say is, get your kids into archery. It's good discipline and will teach them skills they can use later on in life.

Author Unknown

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

Now that's a good story! As the comedian said "That's funny I don't care who you are!" A wonderful way to start the morning, with a good laugh. Thanks MsB.

bdamage Loc: My Bunker

I can relate, unfortunately.
Great story!!!
I can't count how many times I shouldn't still be here due to my youthful years.

God had more plans for me.
And He was the ONLY One who could save me from myself!!!

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Amen!! For me, never mind my youthful adventures. I just keep having "adventures" and yet I'm still vertical....lots of food for thought He has given me.

BearK.....what a great story to start the day with. Thank you.

DamnYANKEE

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

DamnYANKEE

You and Me both . Gawd , How did I make it to age 16 :shock: . Let alone 63 :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

DamnYANKEE

Them Somethins wrong . I stand with a 15* List :shock:

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Ahhh, did you consider I "might" be a slow learner....I will be 68 in August. Just two months ago, can't tell you what an adrenalin rush I was the recipient of, not able to slow down, brakes failed, but being forced to make a turn off a major highway at way too high a speed, bouncing off the embankment on the opposite side of the road. Prayers of thanks flew when I realized I was still in one piece!! :wink:

BearK Loc: TN

Every time I get in the car I say, "Lord, You be my Pilot, I'll copilot." It really pays. Yesterday, on a narrow country road, a fella came around the curve pretty much on my side of the road. I sucked in my breath, hit the brakes, and someone with him must have alerted him as he was looking off to his left. A "Thank You, Lord," moment.

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

Definitely takes your breath away, it does. Country roads have a habit of reminding you often the Pilot's identity, that the controls are not ours.

archie bunker Loc: Texas

How do you know me so well Bear? Kinda creepy! :lol: :lol:
Great story!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Alicia Loc: NYC

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Thanks for a great story. And you're right, I could visualize myself watching from a distance. :lol: :lol: :lol:

bahmer

I can totally relate as I also was an archery advocate as a youngster in Milwaukee. I hunted and shot anything edible such as rabbits and pheasants even a couple of squirrels. I can so well envision this as we also tinkered with explosives as well as fire and even made CO2 container rockets. That is where one removes the cap from the empty CO2 container and then fills said container with match heads. A long fuse and a ramp to shoot the CO2 cartridge from and you are all set. We never ever found them after we shot them off but they did seem to go for awhile before coming down.

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

What goes up must come down "somewhere" and I'm guessing none made holes in roofs because otherwise I suspect your fun would have come rather a quick end!! I grew up in the suburbs. We were, in public school, required to take archery when we reached high school. The infamous day when one of my comrades accidentally shot the gym teacher in the right back cheek remains embedded in my memory to this day, pun intended. :roll: :wink:

bahmer

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: