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