TheBanyanTree: my new hobby

[Sachet]

I thought it would hurt. Especially when I got hit in the head. But, 
cold weather does have its advantages and with my protective mask (which 
covers most of my head) and the 2 inch thick stocking cap (toboggan up 
here) I was wearing, all I felt was the splat of the impact and I 
groaned because it meant I had to surrender. Drat! With a huge baby blue 
splat of paint on my head no less. <g>

My other hit, in bright neon yellow, got me on my left shoulder. Again, 
with all my layers of clothing, due to the extremely cold weather, all I 
felt was a thud.

It's an interesting sport, is paintballing. Shooting other people with 
balls of paint. Sounds inherently violent, doesn't it? Funny thing is, 
it's not. It's just plain good natured fun.

There were 16 of us. Fifteen guys and me. Nice, eh? <g> Most of them 
were local paramedics, firefighters and police officers who are addicted 
to the sport. So much so that a couple of them spent two months clearing 
inside a stretch of woods, building forts, making blinds and stacking 
hay bales to create a very nice arena. LOTS of trees to dodge around as 
you run for cover or try to shoot around when you see someone move. You 
live for such a moment when you can take a clear shot!

The paintball gun on loan to me went on the blink as soon as we arrived 
so I was a spectator in the middle fort for the first two games. Two boy 
kidlets were up there with me watching their policeman dad play. We were 
all in our safety gear, which makes everyone look like a Darth Vader 
wannabe, only these two were the midget size, cute as can be. They 
couldn't believe I was a player. "Girls don't play paintball. Only 
tomboys do. You must be a tomboy. Are you a tomboy?" Which led to talk 
of our respective dad's and how they took us hunting. We bonded. <g> 
They had just gotten their paintball guns for Christmas and this being 
the day after Christmas, they were thrilled to be on an actual paintball 
field, allowed to watch the adults. They had their helmets on too 
loosely or tightly and were talking about how hard it was to breathe 
and/or see properly, so I showed them how to clasp the bottom straps on 
the back of their necks instead of under their chins. Well, that won me 
all kinds of points in their eyes. When their dad came to pick them up 
they told him all about it on their way to play a game of their own, two 
on one with him. Nice dad!

When one of the other guys learned about me needing a gun, he want to 
his truck and got his extra one, so I was finally able to play with the 
big boys! If someone needed extra paintballs, CO2 or a spare part 
another person loaned whatever was needed in an instant. Safety rules 
were strictly followed, with no fussing required. I was impressed! The 
guys who ran the arena were as nice as can be, and yet they made sure 
that everyone knew the rules and obeyed them. All it took was one 
explanation for the newbies. Everyone else with more experience followed 
the rules as a matter of course. It made for very safe, very enjoyable 
games. Everyone could relax and enjoy playing because the guidelines 
were clearly in place with no quibbles.

Teams were fairly drawn by placing 8 paintballs each of two colors in a 
hat, while someone held the hat up high while everyone drew a color. 
Then Team A went into the woods to secure a position behind a hay bale 
or wooden blind. On the way they discussed strategy and divided up into 
smaller teams who further refined their own strategy. Once everyone was 
ready, Team A called out to Team B for confirmation that they were also 
ready. Great care was taken to ensure that each team was ready. Then 
someone called out "Go" and the game was on! Fast and furious for awhile 
when everyone was trying to move forward and secure a new blind. Then it 
would quiet down while people tried to remain hidden and/or inch 
forward. Then another burst of activity because resting is definitely 
not part of the game. My first hit came when I tried to peek up over the 
blind I was behind. Great shot! It sooooooooo took me by surprise!

My second hit came when I was trying to peek out around the side of a 
different blind. I wasn't *as* surprised, but was verily disgusted. I 
need to figure out how to peek and not get hit! <g>

I was so excited during my third game! I had advanced two blinds further 
than before and had managed to dive in beside Scotty (my brother) and 
provide him with cover fire while he fixed his gun that had jammed. 
Then, then!....just when I had managed to peek around the blind and saw 
a Team B player moving across the way in another blind and had taken aim 
and was happily firing away....I RAN OUT OF CO2!! The paintball gun 
makes a very distinctive noise then, so everyone on the playing field 
knows that you are out. But you still shout "Out! I'm out! Let me leave 
the field!" And everyone does, but you have to put your end plug 
(usually bright orange or yellow) in your gun barrel, raise your gun up 
in the air and walk (with your arms held up) around the edge of the 
arena as you leave, ALWAYS keeping your safety mask in place, even when 
off the field if you stay at the entrance, because stray balls can still 
fly out.

The game is partially based on the honor system. After a certain point, 
with all the splatters that get on you from close but not direct hits, 
you sometimes can't tell what's what. But you can usually feel a hit and 
everyone always owned up and left the field. I admired that level of 
sportsmanship. And 9 out of 10 times the person getting hit would 
compliment the guy who made the shot after the game. There was a 
competitive team spirit, but it came in second place to simple enjoyment 
of the game. Very refreshing!

I was never the first person out, but neither was I ever the last person 
out. So I was happy for my first time out. Zach did great and always 
lasted longer than me. I was very proud of his great sportsmanship.

We both love this new hobby! It teaches a lot of great skills, is a 
wonderful way to exercise outdoors and is relatively inexpensive. If, 
*IF* you can keep it in perspective. Some of the guys are REALLY 
addicted. They have paintballs guns that are unbelievably complex. 
Sniper, laser light for aiming, auto-rapid-fire, etc. With bigger tanks 
of CO2 strapped to their back or waist, hooked up to their guns with a 
long coiling line so they don't have to worry about the tank getting in 
their way. And then four & five hoppers of extra balls for rapid 
refills. Ask me if Scotty has any of this extra stuff? <g> I swear he 
looked like a commando by the time he got all decked out.

This will be a fun way to enjoy family time. Chelsea sez that since I 
had such a great time, she wants to go next time, too.


...Sachet