New to the Path
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 12:43 am
(Note: I haven't a clue if this is the right place for an introduction, so I figured this would be the least intrusive place to try...)
My name is Devin. I don't have a persona- not yet, at least- so for now, I suppose my given name will have to do.
In the 4th grade, our PE class at school did a two week coverage of archery. I had never before even considered picking up a bow- already obsessed with medieval fantasy at that age, my mind was transfixed on the longsword, firmly, as so many young boys are who dream of being heroic knights.
Simplistic fiberglass youth D-bow aside, I was, in all honesty, shocked at how comfortable I felt with it. I lifted it in my hand, listened carefully to the teacher's instructions, drew to my cheek, allowed my eyes to sight down the arrow shaft, and...
...missed. Terribly. But that was only the first shot of many. By the end of week two, my chest burned, my arms ached, my fingers were blistered, but I was never so excited as the moment I got to place the photo of myself alongside my first bullseye on the refrigerator at home.
That first shot, miss or not, was my first step on a very long and, admittedly slow, journey to now. Between three children, a late-night job, and a rather tight budget over the last few , I haven't fired a bow in some time. But my love of history and the martial arts have led me to experiments in other "rangerly" pursuits, including home-based study of German longsword, knife-combat and throwing, and use of the tomahawk.
My eldest son, now seven years old, has also started studying quarterstaff, and my second son, whom is only four, seems dead-set on the longsword. My daughter, age three, would rather play princess, but I'm okay with that, because she's MY princess.
In summary, my experience, my knowledge of the topic, is scant at best. But my interest, my passion, is immense. Of any, likely all, of so-called "archetypes" seen in medieval interest, it's the Ranger which seems the most applicable to life, today. One may be hard-pressed to leave home and find themselves in a duel, or battlefield of armored opponents. But to just go out into the woods, explore, even hunt... that's life. That's firm, and true. That speaks to me.
Plus, rangers are just cool. Because, I mean, c'mon.
My name is Devin. I don't have a persona- not yet, at least- so for now, I suppose my given name will have to do.
In the 4th grade, our PE class at school did a two week coverage of archery. I had never before even considered picking up a bow- already obsessed with medieval fantasy at that age, my mind was transfixed on the longsword, firmly, as so many young boys are who dream of being heroic knights.
Simplistic fiberglass youth D-bow aside, I was, in all honesty, shocked at how comfortable I felt with it. I lifted it in my hand, listened carefully to the teacher's instructions, drew to my cheek, allowed my eyes to sight down the arrow shaft, and...
...missed. Terribly. But that was only the first shot of many. By the end of week two, my chest burned, my arms ached, my fingers were blistered, but I was never so excited as the moment I got to place the photo of myself alongside my first bullseye on the refrigerator at home.
That first shot, miss or not, was my first step on a very long and, admittedly slow, journey to now. Between three children, a late-night job, and a rather tight budget over the last few , I haven't fired a bow in some time. But my love of history and the martial arts have led me to experiments in other "rangerly" pursuits, including home-based study of German longsword, knife-combat and throwing, and use of the tomahawk.
My eldest son, now seven years old, has also started studying quarterstaff, and my second son, whom is only four, seems dead-set on the longsword. My daughter, age three, would rather play princess, but I'm okay with that, because she's MY princess.
In summary, my experience, my knowledge of the topic, is scant at best. But my interest, my passion, is immense. Of any, likely all, of so-called "archetypes" seen in medieval interest, it's the Ranger which seems the most applicable to life, today. One may be hard-pressed to leave home and find themselves in a duel, or battlefield of armored opponents. But to just go out into the woods, explore, even hunt... that's life. That's firm, and true. That speaks to me.
Plus, rangers are just cool. Because, I mean, c'mon.
