Here I am alone in the house today. 20 yr old son out working 16 yr old daughter off with friends wife gone on a trip. So I decide to cleaned my Marlin 30/30 as I am headed out to the range this week to sight in the new Hornady ammo.
My father gave me this gun new when I was 16, now 44. Many times I have thought about buying a newer gun ,larger caliber, different action. So I sat there looking at the scratched , worn stock and the next thing you know I'm headed down memory lane. I have taken a number of deer with this rifle. None ever had the chance to complain about being shot with a marginal caliber. But what is special about it, is the scratches tell a story. A story of my son ( who is my best hunting partner) taking his first deer with this old 30/30. Put 2 shots thru the heart. The first rifle my wife ever shot. All the cold Maine winter days I took this rifle out and it never failed me. There are an ocean of stories surrounding this rifle. Just looking at it brighten my day.
So as you look at your old rifle do you see an old rifle or do you see a life time of priceless memories.
Let me leave you with one of my important philosophies on life." The only people that truly matter are the ones who will be standing around the box when they bury you."