History Relived


With one last right turn, we were there.  The wheels came to a stop and I got out of the car.  I stepped out of the passenger seat, Sean, Larry, and Scott went to the trunk to get their paintball gear.  I stopped to take a look around.  My first time to a "real" paintball park.  Before this, we always played in our back yard.  

I got a new Splatmaster Rapide for my 16th birthday.  I was the envy of all my friends.  They had Splatmasters which needed to be cocked for every shot and held about 10 or so paintballs in the top tube.  Mine was the newer semi-automatic version and have a 20 round feed on the side.  Every time we played, I was the "Watch out for that rapide" guy.

But now, as I stand here looking around, I see the world with some very different eyes.  Everyone had "metal" guns.  I didn't even know these things existed!  I was stepping into a whole new world.

Getting ready to play, I found myself surrounded by Tippmann SMG-60's, a .62 Caliber Paintball semi / full automatic paintball gun.  This particular marker had a square metal magazine off of the side that held the paintballs and looked like it came right out of the Godfather movie.  When fired, the 5 round orange and black clips that held the paintballs would spit out the left hand side and land in a bag, ready to be refilled and used again.  Other paintball guns surrounding me were Brass Eagle Nightmares, PMI-1's, and KP rifles with wood stocks that held 14 rounds in a horizontal side tube and had a distinctive pop sound to it. 

The outfits of choice all had one common characteristic... Camouflage.  Everywhere I turned I saw varieties of brown, black, and drab olive.  And Patches!  Everyone had one or two patches on their sleeves or chest, embroidered with a gun manufacturer name, or team name.

It was then a voice from behind me spoke up.  "Is this your first time playing?"

I turned around to see a man much older and taller than myself looking down at me.  I told him that it wasn't my first time playing before, but it was my first time at the field.  I couldn't imagine what gave it away though.  I mean, I had my state-of-the-art semi automatic Rapide at my side, and the camo pants my father let me borrow.  I even had a professional mask that I rented at the shop only minutes ago!  Well, no matter what gave it away, having helped that day was the best thing that could ever have happened.

I stuck by his side most of the game.  When the bunker we were in was getting pelted, and I wanted to run the other way, he kept me calm, explained the plan again, and even told me when and where to take a few shots.  I even came close to hitting someone that day.  Despite not hitting anyone, it will forever be one of the most memorable paintball games I have ever played.

Looking back, I can see that day as either making or breaking my paintball experience.  The help and guidance I received that day definitely made it for me.  I can see that now.  I'd go on, but as I sit at the field writing this, I see someone who can use my help.  Time to return the favor.



Carter "Painthappy" Brown

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