I mentioned Roy Rogers to Wilderness Junior the other day and he said; "Who's that?" For the youngsters out there, just go ahead and "Google" Roy Rogers, it's easier that way.

For those of you who know who I'm talking about (but don't want to admit it) I met him once. You see, some people drop names of famous personalities like Prime Ministers, Presidents, movers and shakers of industry, me, I met Roy and that was a biggie to me!

When we lived in California, he lived 'over yonder' from us. His museum was in Victorville but he lived in Apple Valley. Anyway, I was practicing shooting at the rifle range one day and I noticed Roy Rogers was there too. I was a reserve deputy and we were practicing shooting combat style on that day. Combat-style is where you shoot at targets from behind a barrier, run to another barrier while reloading using a "speed-loader" and then fire again.

So Roy Rogers walks up to me and asks if he can try it using my weapon. Here's my hero of the Saturday matinée, the guy who cleaned up the Wild West almost single handedly, asking if he can hold my six-shooter! (It was a S&W .38 but that didn't matter.) I agreed but told him I wanted to try one of his guns that he had brought along to the range.

I never did see how he did on the combat range, I was too busy showing everyone I was shooting Roy Roger's gun!

Later, after Roy rode off into the sunset, I went home to tell Mrs. Wilderness; "I'm never going to wash these hands again, I shot Roy's gun and he borrowed my six-shooter!"; I said. Mrs. Wilderness just looked at me and rolled her eyes skyward, she wasn't impressed. She said; "I talk to Dale Evans every week at the bank and besides, you have a S&W .38 not a six-shooter."

Go ahead, rain on my parade. By the way, I did wash my hands... Eventually.

WW