Pennsy and the two NJ ladies

[PennsyPlinker]

Today I was working in my shop, OC as usual, and happened to be discussing a few things with a couple of friends of mine. We had just about concluded our business, when a strange car pulled into my parking space. I walked my friends out to their car and greeted the people in the other. It was two ladies and a little boy.

They climbed out of their car and announced that the little boy's mother, a neighbor up the road, (who I think was sister to one and daughter to the other) had told them about my beautiful woodwork, and they decided to stop by and see if they could see some of it. I told them they were welcome to come in and take a look around. This is not an unusual occurrence. As I escorted them into the shop, I said, "You're not from around here, are you?" They replied that they were from New Jersey. I already knew that, based on accents.

I showed them a few finished pieces as well as some in progress. I explained the piles of wood shavings being from a father and son who had come from Arkansas to spent a couple of days with me at the end of last week. That led to a conversation on the classes I teach. They asked if the young man in attendance with them could take a lesson, and how much it cost. I replied that yes he could, and walked on over to get some other finished work out of a drawer, as it is a common piece I make with kids. As I was walking over, with my back to them, the room got very quiet. Then I heard,

"Are you a police officer too?!?"

"No ma'am, I'm just a regular citizen."

"Well then, we'd better go! You've got a gun! Why do you have a gun!?!"

"In case I need to shoot someone ma'am. But you know, I've been carrying a gun for over 19 years now, and I haven't had to shoot even one person yet."

"Well that's good!" "Can you just carry a gun like that here?"

"Yes ma'am. You're from New Jersey. This here's a different country. We're free here in Pennsylvania."

"Yeah, I heard you can do things like that here."

"Not only that ma'am, but I am a certified NRA instructor. I don't just carry a gun, I teach others how to shoot them."

I showed her my NRA instructor card. I think that helped her relax a little. Here she was barging unannounced into a business that is primarily appointment only, only to find the owner armed with a hideous gun! We talked for a couple more minutes, and she made some noises about perhaps the boy coming back for lessons. When they had first arrived, I had warned them that there was a large yellow dog on the premises, and if they ever pulled in and saw him, they should stay in their car. As I walked them out to their car, the one lady asked if there really was such a dog. At that point the boy piped up with

"Yeah, there is! He popped out of the bushes at me when I rode my bike by here!"

I reassured them that he would not cross his line, but that he was real hard on legs and such if strangers came calling unannounced. Between the dog and the gun I will probably never see them again, but if I do, they know what to expect. It was one of my more interesting at home encounters.

[ungawa]

That's very funny

My NJ accent must drive you guys crazy.

[jreese46]

NJ accents are only scary if they make me momentarily forget I escaped NJ.

[ImminentDanger]

Stop scaring the townsfolk!!

You Hooligan!!

...
Love your stories

[moose]

They must have been from North Jersey....ain't nobody down south here got any accents.

[thanker92]

Wassamatta wid youse guys....us peopul from Joisey don't got no accents....
Sheeesh!

[ungawa]

They must have been from North Jersey....ain't nobody down south here got any accents.

Cowtown?

Please....

[Steve_NEPhila]

I am guessing that you either had the Sig or the Smith wheel gun, both of which are works of art. If only they understood that it was not just "a gun" but a means to an end. No one can ever escape a prison they make in their own mind.

Kudos for attempting to mitigate their irrational fear by showing them that you are an instructor. Of course, the whole gun thing was clouding her judgment to the point where she wrote you off. Their loss.

[Exbiker]

They must have been from North Jersey....ain't nobody down south here got any accents.

That's true I have a good friend from Woodstown and he has no accent. Know Bill with the Goldwing?

[ihunt49]

Nice story.

Accents? We don't need no stinkin' accents!