STALKING THE ELUSIVE MISTLETOE
The Holiday Season is coming quickly upon us. Let me step away from the grim current events that have been the focus of this blog lately, and try to start cultivating a little holiday spirit. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all of that.
On the range this past weekend, the Significant Other spotted some mistletoe in the treetops. Having been through this last year, I knew where this was going.
She set forth to stalk the elusive mistletoe.
Being somewhat athletic (the Tae-Kwon-Do background, and all of that), there was a time when she would have scampered up the tree and harvested the pretty parasitic plant. Today as a grandmother (yes, I’m at an age when the younger women are grandmothers), she feels there is a standard of dignity to maintain. So, she brought a harvesting tool.
To wit, her pet Remington 1100 Special Field LT-20 shotgun, stocked and otherwise customized to her specifications. A few blasts of Winchester 20 gauge AA Sporting Clays loads of #8 birdshot later, she returned carrying her prey in her free hand.
“Peace on Earth, good will toward men,” I sighed quietly.
It is Christmas tradition to place mistletoe atop a doorway during Christmas season.
It is customary for guys and gals who meet at that spot to kiss under the mistletoe.
Am I going to kiss this pretty girl when we encounter each other beneath that shotgun-harvested greenery?
That is entirely up to her.
After all… she’s the one with the shotgun…
November 17th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
That YOUR (or HER) job on shotgun – or does Remington now ship it with that extended bolt handle? I sold quite a few of those aftermarket for 1100s!!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Her gun, her choice, Matt.
Extended bolt handle as you know is by Choate. Photo doesn’t show the extended magazine, but the educated eye will discern the extruded screws for the SideSaddle shell carrier attached to the other side of the Remington’s receiver.
Which, at the moment, are filled with 5/8 ounce rifled slugs.
“I can run, but I can’t hide” … and, “If I run, I’ll only die tired.”
November 18th, 2009 at 12:26 am
We’ve got to get ours here soon – a different species with pretty pink berries. Grows on the junipers up the canyon – I was checking it out on Saturday, and it’s ready for picking.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd222/505Erich/ChristmasEve0090001resized.jpg
November 18th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Well, this post brought out a smile and a laugh! The world is filled with disturbing news, but its also important to remember what makes us human, what gives life value, and what has meaning!
Mas, you are as good with a pen as you must be with a gun.
God Bless.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
That’s a funny story, Mas. I’ll be sure to pass this link around.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Mas,
Love the story. That Gail is one resourceful person.
tom
November 18th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Wait a minute! That is an unfair kill. It’s only sporting if you shoot it down with a 22 rifle. Well that’s the way I have harvested mine for the past 20 years. My kids think that hunting mistletoe is a normal Christmas tradition.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Mas – Great story.
Your g/f a grandmother?
I know the feeling when dating mature women means dating women younger than you are . . . it’s a bit of a milestone.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thank you for the memories. My dad did this every year with a Ithaca Model 37. The same gun I used last week on a South Dakota bird hunt.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Ain’t you proud you have a woman that can do it all!
I love this one!
November 19th, 2009 at 5:40 am
HEH HEH HEH.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:57 am
What a great and happy story. It’s wonderful and a very good thing to be hapopy with that special girl in our lives. Merry Christmas
November 19th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I guess we all think alike! 20 Ga has been my harvesting implement of choice for years!
November 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Reminiscent of Skeeter Skelton, that was well written, Mas!
All the Best
Rob
November 19th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Reminds me of cone picking season. We would check on the progress of the cone/seed development in Noble fir and Pacific Silver Fir during the summer before contacting a crew to come back in the fall to pick the ripe cones. I used another forester’s .22 rifle with a scope to shoot the branch just behind the cone. Amazing how effective that was. If you missed you had to try for another cone because the branch was usually whipping around so much you couldn’t get another shot. 20 guage wouldn’t work because the scatter would destroy the cone.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Any anti-mistletoe-hunting hate-mail from PETM yet ?
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Thanks for a great holiday story, Mas. Hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas.
And as an aside, even though my wife of 33 years isn’t a shooter, I have absolutely no doubt that given the proper incentive, she could take a 70 yard shot into the sun with a twenty mile crosswind, using an RG 22 and put one right between my eyes. I am a well behaved husband.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Mas, I wish you and yours the warmest and most rewarding of Thanksgivings… and lots of kisses beneath the mistletoe.
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Mas, That is the cutest story I have ever heard about someone being threatened with a shotgun.