My Life In A Snapshot 4

   This photo was taken in 1987, I was sixteen years old. I was at an archery shoot at the Chippewa Blackhawks archery club, in Jackson, MI.
   I laugh when I look at this picture... Look at all that hair (it was the eighties...) I look so nice and innocent. I suppose I was a nice kid (most of the time...) But I was anything but innocent. This picture was taken a couple of months before I  was sent to the SAI (Special Alternative Incarceration) State Boot-camp Program. And probably a little more than a year before I was sentenced to State Prison. I'm still not ready to delve into that whole story, but that was were I was at that time in my life.
   Archery shoots were a staple activity for my dad and I. We went to at least one shoot every week, sometimes two. It was one of the things we did together that we really had a good time with each other. My dad was very proud of my ability with a bow.  For me, archery was more than that though. It was one of the few things that I was proud of my own ability with. It was something that I was good at, and enjoyed, and I didn't feel that way about many things then.
   My dad taught me about all aspects of traditional archery. By traditional archery I mean long bows, wooden arrows, shooting instinctively with no sites. He taught me how to shoot, how to make my own arrows, and craft leather to make my own quiver and arm-guards. I made the quiver and arrows I'm wearing in this picture as a matter of fact. We even made our own broad-heads from steel, bone, or antler. Not only was archery fun it was highly educational. There are countless life skills that I could tie to my experience with archery.
   One of the most valuable things I learned from archery was how to compete. And how to respect competitors. It isn't all about winning. In many sports there is a fellowship among it's competitors. But I think that to be especially true among traditional archers. My dad was friends with a lot of the guys that went to the archery clubs, and we went to a lot of different clubs. He was also a craftsman and traded goods with many of the fellows we would meet there. Often times we would shoot through the courses with his friends and their children. So I ended up spending the day hanging out with he kids I was competing against most of the time. For me it was about having fun, and having fun with my dad. I didn't really care about if I won or not.
   Don't get me wrong, I shot to win, I liked winning. And I did my fair share of it. But I could handle it if I didn't. And my dad always made a big deal of how well I did whether I won or not. Most of the time I congratulated whatever kid won and we got are bows and went to the practice targets or walked around and shot trash. There were times when I got competitive, but I didn't have as much fun... And I didn't shoot as well.
   I was a pretty skilled archer, even as a kid. I often did win if not place in most of the local tournaments. I attribute some of that to skill, but also there were times when there were not many kids that shot my class. Not to knock myself, that's just the way it was. I don't know how many trophies and medals I won, there were quite a few of them. My dad had our trophies on a sill in the kitchen, he valued them more than I did. The ones I was really proud of were the second place trophy I won for the overall at the Great Lakes National Longbow Invitationals in 1986, and the first place plaque I won at the same event for the aerial shoot. I hit eight out of ten, four inch discs thrown into the air. At my best, about a year later, right about when this picture was taken, I could usually hit six or seven out of ten quarters thrown into the air. And I have seen my dad shoot aspirins out of the air.
   I know, pretty unbelievable right. Well, it's true believe it or not. Archery was a very positive influence in my life, at one of my most negative times in my life. I loved it, and I put a lot into it. A lot of my family, and a few of the friends that I grew up with read this blog, and I promise you no one will call me out on my claims.
   Sadly, those times are past. I have my bow still, but I haven't shot in many years. I'm sure I could still hold my own, but I doubt I could ever reach that skill level again. For one thing, my reflexes and instincts are just not as sharp as they use to be. But more than that, a big part of the fun of archery for me, was the camaraderie at the shoots, and the time spent with my dad. It is not the same standing in the back-yard shooting at a target by yourself. And the people I run with these days just aren't into it like that.
   Honestly, It's not all that sad. I experienced archery in a way that not many people do. And I have never let go of the experience. I still carry all the knowledge, and lessons learned from the experience if not the skill. And I satisfy the same needs of camaraderie and fellowship through fishing. And my passion and love of fishing stems from the same experiences anyway. So, I guess it's not like there is some black-hole in my life from not shooting my bow. But, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't miss it sometimes. Maybe someday I'll get the bow back out and clean the dust off. Find somewhere and someone to fling some arrows around with. Until then, I'll treasure the memories and experiences I have gained from the great sport of archery, and I'll keep flinging those lures. If I ever quit fishing... just put me out of my misery.