| For many years, most of my Saturdays would consist | | | | severalhours of online research, much akin to going to |
| of aterrible ritual. I would begin with the loading of my | | | | a sports bar and asking what isthe best football team, I |
| paintball CO2 tanks intothe trunk of my car, and begin | | | | had ordered my first airsoft gun. Needless to say, |
| the search for the one man within thirty milesthat could | | | | myfirst experience with airsoft was a painful one. I will |
| bring my precious equipment to life. While compressed | | | | not bore you withanother online order horror story. |
| nutrients werebeing supplied to the tanks, the search | | | | Even though, my first experience with airsofthad |
| for an unbroken and fresh box of paintwould begin. | | | | shaken my confidence, I braved the online world once |
| Some days the gods were receptive and my ritual | | | | more with a second morefocused order with a |
| would be completedin an hour or two. Usually, the | | | | different retailer. After several days, my order |
| paintball gods would put obstacles in may pathto test | | | | arrived,and my initial hopes were confirmed. The |
| my faith. | | | | accuracy, power, and range that my newairsoft gun |
| After many years of dealing with the fickle | | | | displayed were nothing short of amazing. How had I |
| paintballgods, I now worship at the altar of airsoft. I will | | | | not discoveredthis before now? I felt as though a |
| be held hostage no more tothe tethered tank to my | | | | great secret had been kept from me. It wasnow |
| side, nor the fragile paintballs that must be handled | | | | apparent that I must give praise and monetary |
| asthough they were transplant organs. My Saturdays | | | | offerings to my newlydiscovered hobby. |
| now consist of sleeping late,loading one thin bag into | | | | Armed with my new airsoft gun, I set off to convert |
| my trunk, and taking a leisurely drive to the field. | | | | theworld, starting with the ones closest to me. For |
| Rechargeable batteries and solid plastic BBs have | | | | most of my comrades theconversion to airsoft was |
| replaced hazardous compressedgases and fragile, | | | | immediate, with some offering to purchase the |
| expiring paintballs. Much as the car has replaced the | | | | airsoftgun on the spot. Needless to say, the arrival of |
| horseand carriage, airsoft will have the same effect on | | | | airsoft at our paintball fieldthat day delayed the starting |
| paintball, mind you that youcan still see a stray horse | | | | time severely, and within two short weeks allremnants |
| around every once and awhile. | | | | of paintball had been removed from the field and our |
| My conversion happened almost overnight. After | | | | possession. |