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Sunday, August 29, 2010

The "Sometimes it's better not to know!" Story

It was an ordinary day. A few of the members of the 1972 State Championship Rifle Team which I had coached had just left. We had a dessert party at my house to catch up on each other's lives. One member of the team, Kristin H., I had not seen since 1972. She stilled looked the same. Really! Maybe a little more mature, or should I say wise!! I had planned for everyone to gather on our rear deck, but a slight rain pushed us inside. We all gathered in the living room for drinks and dessert. I had made two peach pies during the afternoon and most everyone had a piece. They weren't sure they wanted a piece of pie after my wife said I actually had made them. After an hour of sharing our news with each other, we got to talking about the rifle team and all the fun we had in the early 70s. Then .... a few stories surfaced that I had not heard before. My top shooter that season was Dave A. and he fired a perfect score in every match that we had. He qualified for the District III individuals with four other members of the team. Kristin was also one of those members who qualified for the individuals. She started the story by telling us that as some of the team members were entering the school where the individuals where to be held, they were asked to help carry the trophies for the winners into the school. Dave was handed the 1st place trophy and he turned to Kristen and asked her to carry it because he didn't feel right carrying it into the school and then carrying the same trophy back out again at the end of the day. He assumed he was going to win it. She agreed and exchanged what she was carrying with him. Seems that Kristin was really sharp that day and she ended up carrying out the 1st place trophy herself, beating her teammate that day. Dave was sitting there listening to her story and began to blush a little when she finished it. We all had a good laugh. Then another story surfaced that I believe I probably was not to have heard, even after almost 40 years. Seems that we had traveled to a meet in a neighboring town with the 10 members who were going to shoot that day. Another member of the team who didn't qualify for the meet, decided to fly his father's plane (legally) to the airport near the school. He came to the meet to see how everyone was doing and after the first two shooters finished, he asked Steve W., who had just finished, if he wanted a ride home. In the plane! Steve knew that all members were expected to ride the bus home after the meet, but thought I would never miss him. And ... he was right. I never took a head count that night. Steve looked at me and tried to hush the story teller, Howie E., from saying anymore, but I had already heard enough. After they all left my home tonight, I started thinking about the tale and what could have happened. Luckily nothing did, but I am now wondering what other stories they could have shared with me over the years that they never did. I'm not sure I really want to know!! The year was exciting enough as it was. And ..... there were a few stories I don't care to share with them about our championship season. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

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