Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply |
Factor |
'Schticks was riding along on Ole Silver and thinking about the time Old Volie, AKA Paco, brought him the Wheellock up from México. Volie had arrived riding Chico, his burro, wearing the 16th century costume with Burgundy pantaloons and a puffy sleeved shirt in an outragious yellow with fairy type shoes. He was glad he hadn't killed ole Volie when he had fired the 'Tenner' at him. But he couldn't stand the sight of that outragious costume. Ole 'Schticks started laughing so hard from remembering the look on ole Volie's face that he had a heart attack and wrecked ole Silver. Then he had a stroke to finish the job. As the essence of 'Schticks, his soul, heart, spirit and mind slowly rose from the no longer essential body of 'Schticks, he looked down. Ole silver's front wheel was twisted, and he felt just a small twang of sorrow. Then he thought of Mrs. 'Schticks and knew another tiny shot of sorrow, knowing she would miss him in her life. He also knew that she would think often of the next great adventure that he would now have. He had been witing for it for many years. At about a thousand feet in the sky two gentlemen in white robes with radient faces met him. They would escort him to the pearly gates of heaven. He grinned like only 'Schticks could. He was brimming full of questions, but the gentlemen said that they would not want to spoil the surprize for him. Many of his questions would be answered just by being there. The rest of the questions he had an eternity to ask so there was no hurry. Then they were at the Pearly Gates. Yep, Pietra Sant, aka. San Pedro, San Pierre, St. Peter, was there to process him in. 'Ah, yes, 'Schticks! Welcome.' Pedro paused and looked a bit more at his book of records of the life of 'Schticks. He scowled just a short moment and looked up at his waiting guest. 'I-is-there a problem?' 'Schticks asked with a tremor in his voice. 'Oh, sorry, no, you're IN! But there's this one sticking point.' 'W-wha-what kind of sticking point? What did I do?' His spiritual knees (he hadn't received his new body yet.) were now stricking one another at alarming speed. 'No, no, it is not something you did. It is some of your preferences. We want to make your eternal experience as happy as can be, but there is this one little tiny preference that could be a problem for you. I need to talk to the Big Guy about this.' 'The Big Guy?' 'Oh, yes, El Padre, you know, the Big Guy' 'Y-you call HIM the Big Guy?' 'Oh, yes, we are rather informal here. Gentlemen, would you escort 'Schticks to the processing in room until I get back.' pistuo deo lalo | ||
|
Factor |
Right inside the pearly gates was the Prcessing In room. As 'schticks step through the gates he received his new body. He felt the change and looked down at himself. Even through his white robe he could see that he now had THE higher spiritual version of his body from the day of his wedding. He passed a mirror and stopped to stare at his handsome young face. This was getting better and better. Presently Pedro came back. He seemed a little subdued, but he smiled right away at 'Schticks. 'St. Peter, my heavenly body is so young!' 'Yes, do you like it?' 'What will Mrs. 'Schticks say about it?' 'Hah, you wait till you see her!' 'Schticks remembered what she looked like on their wedding day and a warm glow came over him. 'Now, about this preference of yours...perhaps we should get to a few other details first. You have enjoyed muzzleloading gonnes for many years, correct?' 'Is that a problem?' 'No, no, we play with them all the time, here! There are times that San Juan has Pearly Gates duty and I get to shoot my favorite matchlock for an afternoon. Now, do you prefer to be in Wheellock or flintlock heaven? We have both. If you prefer, we can acommodate you with being able to go back and forth. Actually, you can wander through anywhere you like. Your enjoyment is likely to expand into other areas as eternity progresses. Why, we have spaces reserved for the future earth men who like to play with ray guns and the like.' At this he shook his head as if to shake off an image he didn't want to continue to see in his mind's eye. 'Towards the end I really enjoyed that wheellock ole volie made for me, so I think I would like to start there. By the way, will he be arriving anytime soon?' 'Well, I am not allowed to reveal that. But I can say that we struggle some with the reality of wanting a man to enjoy the earth, his family and friends for long years and wanting him to be here to enjoy the realities of eternity. 'Okay, we will book you into the wheellock heaven, but...that brings back that one sticking point we have to deal with before escorting you there.' 'I- I don't want to cause problems.' 'No, the only problem is how we can fully please you and make your experience rich and full, without blotches. But I gotta talk to the Old Man again. I have an idea.' pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
<mtnmike> |
Yeah,,and my tears ain't real neither,Sweet Lord I miss that man | ||
Factor |
When Pedro returned, he was smiling brightly. 'El Jeffe and I were discussing your feelings. The idea I had was that we could ease you into Wheellock Heaven. Maybe not give you the full effect until your earlthly, as yet, feelings have a chance to mature a bit more, so you can fully enjoy the experience.' 'Schticks thought that there might be more to transitioning into heaven than he had thought over his adult life. 'I thought I would be immediately ready for anything in heaven, is this not true?' 'Well, that is part of the point! We want men to enjoy the maturing process from the earthly realm to here.' 'How long would this 'easing in' take? 'Some weeks.' 'Does this happen to everyone?' 'Absolutely not! Maybe to one in five million.' 'Why to me?' 'Schticks, you are a very special man. And we have special and high things for you. After all, you led Audie to the Lord!' 'Audie?' 'Yes, he's a very special man, too. We are having a hard time making him wait until his long and fruitful life is at an end. Oops, I revealed just a little about his longevity' 'So he won't be here for a while?' 'No, but I'd better not say more.' 'I hate to wait for my wheellock heaven.' That was the arguement The Boss and I were having.' 'Gasp!' 'He thinks you can take it. Even though it will be a bit of a shock to your system, you have your new system now, and HE thinks we should introduce it to heavenly reality.' 'Schticks looked from one gentleman in white to the other. 'You guys think I should go for it?' 'Well...If the Big Guy thinks you can handle it...' Pietra sant said quickly, 'Permit me to have one more conference with HIM.' And he was gone. pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Factor |
'El Padre has ruled! You will go into Wheellock Heaven now fully dressed and fully able to enjoy the comeplete experience!' 'Schticks grinned from ear to ear. His heavenly heart beat a bit more rapidloy in anticipation. 'Gentlemen here is the clothing bag with our guest's new clothes, which will make him presentable. Escort him through that door. 'Schticks, that is Wheellock Heaven. There will be a dressing room on the right. These two gentlemen will help you. After you are properly dressed, they will introduce you to the other men from earth that are enjoying a shooting contest right now. Your favorite wheellock, er, that is the heavenly model is waiting for you. All the fixin's are laid out for you on your own personal loading bench. You will find the we have the FINEST pyrites, and the wheel is hardened to perfection. There will be few failures to fire. Your aim will be yours, however. So expect stiff competition.' 'Schticks hoped his new body would be able to learn how to aim, hold and follow through with his gonne. 'Oh, there are other guests coming in! I hope they are easier to process. Duty calls! ¡Buen provecho!' '¡Gracias, San Pedro!' 'Schticks wondered how the spanish came out of his mouth, or how he understood Peter's words, meaning enjoy well! He wondered if some of Ole Volie's Méxicano friends were right about the language spoken in heaven. One of the gents opened the door indicated and 'Schticks heard muzzleloaders firing. A whisp of heavenly smoke floated through the door. When he stepped through he stopped short and gasped. Everyone of the shooters was wearing burgandy panteloons, with a puffy sleeved shirt in outragious yellow, and fairy slippers. He wandered if Ole Volie had maybe been here for a brief time, but he had never said anything about an out of body experience... Then the gent on his right tugged on the sleeve of his robe. In his other hand he held the unbagged clothes for 'Schticks. They were the same burgundy pantaloons, puffy sleeved shirt of outragious yellow! The other gent was pressing the fairy slippers into his left hand! He gasped... pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Factor |
Lord... I sure would love to read 'Schtick's reply to this! Writing this story makes me feel...emotional. El León pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Free Trapper |
Don't break down Volie. We all need this story but maybe you need it more than any of the rest of us. "They do not live their lives 'by your leave'! They hack it out of the wilderness with their own two hands, bearing their children along the way!" - Cora Monroe - "Last Of The Mohicans" | |||
|
Factor |
Being an ex-SCAer,I wouldn't be a shocked as some by the differences in styles of dress,but I am glad you didn't put him in Italian Renaissance(TIGHT tights,codpiece,and short tunic!!!)The poor ol' guy might not be able to handle it.....Thanks for this peek at what might happen,it helps.... Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin | |||
|
Factor |
Thanks, guys. Mtnmike, you must have seen my author's note. I realized when I posted it that it wasn't necesary and that it detracted from the nature of the story. I wanted it to be joyous as well as amusing. el Leon pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Booshway |
You know what ol' 'Sticks would say about this story? He'd say "HAW HAW HAW!! That's a good 'un, Volie!" As it is. Please keep going Leon, we all may need this. Terry was more than a good man. Terry was a GOOD man. He was a good FRIEND. And he loved you. Terry was a special man, with a special way. I can picture him laughing and smiling about this story, and you're definitely the one to tell it. Thanks - again, please keep it going, if you care to. There is so much to say about ol' Fiddlesticks. And there is a lot of healing needed here at the Campfire. We'll never get over it, but we can honor our friend like you have. Spot | |||
|
Factor |
I suppose there are possibilities for continuing the story,Spot, I will think about it. pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Factor |
I will think about ideas for continuing the story,Spot. pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Factor |
Anyone have any real-life stories 'bout 'sticks? Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin | |||
|
Factor |
The weekend that 'Shticks came to PA to baptise Audey,he was already at Audey's house when I arrived. Soon after I arrived, Birdman arrived with a friend whose name I don't remember. Birdman's hobby was making turkey calls from turkey wing bones. He presented Audey, 'Schticks and me each with a newly made call. 'Schticks immediately took out his cell phone, called home and said, 'Listen to this.' And then he played a tune on his new turkey call to Mrs. 'Schticks. We all had a nice weekend together. Did some shooting and then held Audey under the crick while 'Schticks pronounced the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit over him. A moving ceremony what with not being surrounded with symbols, but simply having THE FAITH. pistuo deo lalo | |||
|
Booshway |
'Sticks sold me my first .40 muzzleloading rifle barrel. It was a "drop-in" for a T/C Renegade. Heavy as all get out, but it got me hooked on the .40's for hunting. I should say that Fiddlesticks wanted the barrel for hog hunting only; he was interested in hunting hogs, and you can hunt hogs in Arkansas with any caliber that happens to be legal at that particular time of year, and the .40 is legal for both small and large game, meaning it is legal throughout the entire hunting season - October 1st through February 28th. I don't think Terry ever intended to hunt deer with the .40. I tore up squirrels real bad with that .40, and that eventually convinced me to try it on a deer. Since then I have taken 11 (I think that's right) deer with a .40 roundball and absolutely love it. I scaled it back to a TVM Tennessee Mountain rifle so it wouldn't be so heavy, and you do have to limit your range and pick your shots. But I have never lost a deer with the .40. Fiddlesticks insisted on giving me that barrel for what he paid, not including shipping, because he was planning to send it back to Green Mountain for a refund anyway. I got the barrel, some great conversation, the privilege of seeing pictures of he and another gentleman on this forum whose name escapes me (from Missouri, I do remember his handle changed, I believe from one caliber to another), in period dress, and quite a lot of knowledge about our local history. Terry was an extremely humble man, and I don't believe he had any idea of the positive impact he and Mrs. Fiddlesticks had on those around them. On another occasion, I posted a tale on the Campfire about an experience my son and I had here on the farm when we were rabbit hunting and our youngest beagle led the pack. Terry complimented me on the story, and offered help should I ever want to try writing for publication. I was embarrassed, because I figured he thought I was trying to audition on the forum or something. But, think about that. Fiddlesticks was an accomplished writer, and he was reaching out to a guy he barely knew who he thought was aspiring to do what he had done. He had nothing to gain from that. But he was sincere, and my guess is he probably helped more than a couple of guys who actually were aspiring writers. Terry was kind. Another time, the subject came up somehow about travel, or Ireland, or something, and I commented about kissing the Blarney Stone and then finding out the locals would go out and urinate on it at night. He "HAW HAW HAW"ed me about that and then made sure to bring it up a couple of times later on. | |||
|
Pilgrim |
Was that thunder off in the distance or Sticks and his friends enjoying a little shooting match? | |||
|
Free Trapper |
Fiddlesticks.....I was late getting to his fire. But so glad that I made it. Though our time was short together here, I strongly felt his friendship and his humbly simple yet everloving kindness's through his words and attentions. I do know that Sticks was a very rare individual. One so rare that having the good fortune to get to meet him by the fire and to interact with him, even for such a short period of time, that I have been truly Blessed. In some of his last attention's here, he gave an old rifle of mine a name. A name that I will always treasure and repeat with thoughts of Fiddlesticks in mind. Out of the entire populous there come just a few chosen folk that are placed here as gifts for us to take into our hearts. I have only met a very few of these sort in my journey. I have given these rare one's a name, I call em "Shiner's among men". Yep....Terry was just such a man. | |||
|
Factor |
That he was,Cran.... Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin | |||
|
Powered by Social Strata |
Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |