CGeminski
Well-known member
The day I was born my father bought me a Winchester Youth bolt action .22 rifle. I learned to shoot with that rifle, more importantly I learned to shoot safely with it. To this day it is one of my most prized possessions, in fact I have a photo of me as a young boy where I am holding a shotgun and my Dad is holding the .22 rifle, which I did not know the significance of until last night.
My first child, a son named Daniel was born on Tuesday. Mom and baby are doing fantastic, I spent some time at the hospital with them last night then came home to find a special present on my kitchen counter.... A brand new Remington 870 Wingmaster .410 shotgun, the very same one in the photo I previously mentioned. My father had bought it for my first son and saved it all these years. I was so moved, I wrote an email to some of my best friends and family last night. Here is that letter, along with some photos. I just wanted to share because it seems there are fewer people today who can appreciate this story, however on this forum I know all of you will.
So I left work a little early and spent some time with Daniel this evening. I came home at midnight, after spending an hour and a half with Daniel in my arms, which was pretty cool. During that time I had the opportunity to talk to him about all the great things he has to look forward to in life... Among those were hunting and fishing with his Dad and grandfather, hunting upstate with Uncle Mike & Uncle Chris and fishing with Uncle Scott. He seemed particularly impressed when I started talking to him about being safe & responsible in the outdoors, all the many types of ducks he would have to learn and how I would teach him to field dress deer and filet fish. Proof of that was later found in his diapers, just in case you are wondering how I knew..... Kids!
Anyway, when I got home I turned on the kitchen lights to find a brand new Remington 870 Wingmaster in .410 laying on my counter. Along with the gun was a note:
“To My Grandson Daniel,
Just a little note to you on the day you were born. This is for you, a new Remington 870 Wingmaster .410 shotgun. I did the same thing for your Dad when he was born, so in keeping tradition this is your birthday gift. I hope we can hunt together someday and I know you will enjoy this .410 with your Dad, but only when you are old enough and properly trained in firearms safety.
I know how proud your Dad is, and I’m sure he can’t wait to introduce you to “the great outdoors” and teach you our family tradition of hunting and fishing. I know he started you right, one of your first pictures is you wearing a camouflage hat. You are going to be one lucky young man, I saw the proud smile on your Dad’s face. All he said was “he’s a keeper”! Enjoy and respect the outdoors and what mother nature has provided us.
With My Love,
Grandpa
June 11, 2013”
My father is not a man who writes many words on cards, so in addition to the 870 the note tore at my heart pretty good, all in a real good way. The day I was born Dad bought me my first gun, a Winchester Youth .22 bolt action rifle. I learned to shoot with that gun and will gladly pass it down to Daniel when the time is right. Now Daniel has his first rifle and shotgun, a pretty lucky kid I would have to say. I might have to buy him his first fishing rod this week!
I had to call my Dad and wake him up, just to thank him for this gift to my son in addition to the greatest gift he has ever given me... my love of the shooting, hunting, fishing and the outdoors in general (for some reason the phone kept getting wet during the conversation, some kind of crazy phenomona I guess). I spent another 20 minutes meticulously taking the gun apart, oiling every part and re-assembling it, all to 1am. The funniest part was when I opened my gun safe, there was only one spot remaining for a long gun, the rest of the safe was full. Now I know why that spot remained open, everything happens for a reason.
Not only has my love of the outdoors given me many wonderful adventures, more importantly it has given me life-long friendships which are the most important. If you are getting this email it’s because we have shared the love of the outdoors together and I know you will understand where I am coming from. Your friendship means the world to me and I can only hope that my son will be as lucky as I am, to enjoy the outdoors with his friends as he grows up. Thanks for being my friend, I look forward to more adventures in the outdoors with all of you and my son Daniel.
Your friend always,
Chris
View attachment Danielcamo.jpg
View attachment photo.jpg
View attachment IMG_0031a.jpg
View attachment IMG_0033a.jpg
My first child, a son named Daniel was born on Tuesday. Mom and baby are doing fantastic, I spent some time at the hospital with them last night then came home to find a special present on my kitchen counter.... A brand new Remington 870 Wingmaster .410 shotgun, the very same one in the photo I previously mentioned. My father had bought it for my first son and saved it all these years. I was so moved, I wrote an email to some of my best friends and family last night. Here is that letter, along with some photos. I just wanted to share because it seems there are fewer people today who can appreciate this story, however on this forum I know all of you will.
So I left work a little early and spent some time with Daniel this evening. I came home at midnight, after spending an hour and a half with Daniel in my arms, which was pretty cool. During that time I had the opportunity to talk to him about all the great things he has to look forward to in life... Among those were hunting and fishing with his Dad and grandfather, hunting upstate with Uncle Mike & Uncle Chris and fishing with Uncle Scott. He seemed particularly impressed when I started talking to him about being safe & responsible in the outdoors, all the many types of ducks he would have to learn and how I would teach him to field dress deer and filet fish. Proof of that was later found in his diapers, just in case you are wondering how I knew..... Kids!
Anyway, when I got home I turned on the kitchen lights to find a brand new Remington 870 Wingmaster in .410 laying on my counter. Along with the gun was a note:
“To My Grandson Daniel,
Just a little note to you on the day you were born. This is for you, a new Remington 870 Wingmaster .410 shotgun. I did the same thing for your Dad when he was born, so in keeping tradition this is your birthday gift. I hope we can hunt together someday and I know you will enjoy this .410 with your Dad, but only when you are old enough and properly trained in firearms safety.
I know how proud your Dad is, and I’m sure he can’t wait to introduce you to “the great outdoors” and teach you our family tradition of hunting and fishing. I know he started you right, one of your first pictures is you wearing a camouflage hat. You are going to be one lucky young man, I saw the proud smile on your Dad’s face. All he said was “he’s a keeper”! Enjoy and respect the outdoors and what mother nature has provided us.
With My Love,
Grandpa
June 11, 2013”
My father is not a man who writes many words on cards, so in addition to the 870 the note tore at my heart pretty good, all in a real good way. The day I was born Dad bought me my first gun, a Winchester Youth .22 bolt action rifle. I learned to shoot with that gun and will gladly pass it down to Daniel when the time is right. Now Daniel has his first rifle and shotgun, a pretty lucky kid I would have to say. I might have to buy him his first fishing rod this week!
I had to call my Dad and wake him up, just to thank him for this gift to my son in addition to the greatest gift he has ever given me... my love of the shooting, hunting, fishing and the outdoors in general (for some reason the phone kept getting wet during the conversation, some kind of crazy phenomona I guess). I spent another 20 minutes meticulously taking the gun apart, oiling every part and re-assembling it, all to 1am. The funniest part was when I opened my gun safe, there was only one spot remaining for a long gun, the rest of the safe was full. Now I know why that spot remained open, everything happens for a reason.
Not only has my love of the outdoors given me many wonderful adventures, more importantly it has given me life-long friendships which are the most important. If you are getting this email it’s because we have shared the love of the outdoors together and I know you will understand where I am coming from. Your friendship means the world to me and I can only hope that my son will be as lucky as I am, to enjoy the outdoors with his friends as he grows up. Thanks for being my friend, I look forward to more adventures in the outdoors with all of you and my son Daniel.
Your friend always,
Chris
View attachment Danielcamo.jpg
View attachment photo.jpg
View attachment IMG_0031a.jpg
View attachment IMG_0033a.jpg
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