What's In A Name?

I’ve been shooting for about 3 years now, so I’m not a brand new shooter anymore, but I am still learning from each and every match or practice I participate. I hope that part never ends – I am encouraged each time by some little tidbit that I can bring home. I think attitude has a lot to do with my ability to continue to recognize and process new information.

Outside of the actual shooting side of our game, there are many other aspects. One, being the choosing of an alias. That is the name we choose to call ourselves that is usually separate and apart from our given name. That process starts when an experienced shooter tells us we need to decide on an alias name to be used to identify us as a Cowboy Action Shooter. This is the name we choose that will be registered with the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and that name will be ours. When we choose that name, little do we realize that as time passes we will probably be known by our alias name by far more folks than those that know us by our real name.

I was watching some old western movies today while getting some sewing done when I began to recognize names that sounded familiar to me. I chuckled to myself when I realized they were not familiar because they were characters in the movie I was watching, but because I knew real cowboy shooters, both men and women, that had the same names. These folks are real people that I know, and know well, yet I couldn’t tell you their real names. I am sure that in some cases that might not be a good thing, but in my world of Cowboy Action Shooting, it makes them special.

I thought too, how special it was to choose a name that really fits who you are, or who you want to be. There are so many sources for these special names. Some come from movies or books, some from our very own ancestors, but they are always a reflection of our personalities. Many have a story behind why they chose a particular name and how they arrived at a final choice.

One thing that still delights me, is when our phone rings and the person on the other end will ask, “Is this Prissy?” A big smile appears on my face and I immediately know that I am most likely talking to a fellow shooter. My mind races to why they might be calling, but I know whatever the reason, it will be to discuss something fun and about the game I’ve come to love, Cowboy Action Shooting!