LifeNRA
Flashaholic*
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2004
- Messages
- 1,453
I am a Beretta firearms nut. I love their history and their products. I do not own any of their shotguns, always wanted to though, but I have owned a few of their pistols. The only Beretta I currently own is a Cougar 8045. I had to sell the others because of medical bills and other expenses in the last year.
Anyway I have always liked the Cougar line of pistols and have wanted a Cougar model 8000 (9mm) Inox (stainless) ever since I saw a pic of one on the internet. I have never even held a 8000 Inox and have never seen one in person but boy what a sweet looking gun it is. The rumor is that Beretta only imported maybe 1200 of them into the USA. So I figured my chances of ever owning one, especially with my medical problems, were slim to none.
I had told my brother about a year ago that I would own one before I died. I was of course talking tounge in cheek and was not really being serious. Well my brother remembered me saying that and knows that I have sold most of my guns in the last year. We were talking the other day about what gun we would like and I mentioned the Cougar 8000 Inox of course like I do everytime this subject comes up. He said " I am going to help you get that gun." Of course I asked how. He said "This is the deal". "Come up with half of the cost and I will cover the other half. It will be our gun to share but you can keep it at your house. If you beat your cancer I will give my half to you. If, God forbid, you do not beat the cancer I will sell the gun and give the money to your family."
Well that sounded great to me. Only problem I had now was how to come up with my half. I thought about it and thought about it some more. I figured surely I have something else I could sell. I found several things that I would have no use for, no matter what the outcome of my life, for several years. Old magazines (the gun type that bullets fit into) from guns that I no longer had, an old chainsaw that I had alway meant to fix, a very old and cheap pushmower, bullets that I no longer had a gun chambered for, 2 old bicycles, etc....
I ended up selling a bunch of junk and raised my half. I actually raised about $150 more than I needed which was a blessing because we needed it for Christmas. I almost backed out of the deal though because now that I had the money I started thinking of how I needed it for other things.
I told my wife that I thought I should just use the money for something else and it was silly to even be thinking of buying the gun. I really was starting to feel guilty. She looked me in the eyes and said "Jeff, I want you to buy the gun." Well to be honest I was kind of taken back because my wife is the most practical person I have ever met. I said why? She said "James (my brother) called me after your agreement and talked to me. He said he knew I would think you were both crazy. But he wanted to explain himself, and he asked that I not tell you this unless you backed out of the deal. James wants you to have the gun because he wants you to live. He said that he knew how much it hurt you to have to sell so many of your things, things that were important to you, and that he wanted to see you have something that you have always wanted. He said that he could have just bought the gun for you but he didnt for 2 reasons. He wanted you to have some money in the gun so you would feel right about having it and not feel guilty. He also wanted you to prove to yourself that when you want something bad enough that you can make it happen. He wants you to take that same energy that you put into raising the money for the gun and apply it to your health. He wants to see you live."
Chokes me up right now typing that. My wife is standing behind me to remind me to get what she said right and is crying. What a wonderful person to have as a brother and a friend.
Well now on to the gun. I had found one on Gunbroker but it was just a bit more than I wanted to give for it. I wanted to keep as much of the money as I could for Christmas presents (we have not bought anything for anybody yet). I was just about to give in and buy when I decided to check the classifieds on Berretaforum.net forum. And lo and behold there was the gun for $70 cheaper than the one on Gunbroker. I have not got the gun yet, have not even sent the money order yet. But I will be sending it the first of next week.
You know my mind tells me to feel guilty but my heart says to enjoy it. My brother has tried to teach me something in his own little way and I think I understand it. Besides, with the extra money I raised it means that my children will not go without presents under the tree. I think everything is going to work out just fine in the end, I really do.
You all keep praying for me and I will do the same for you.
Anyway I have always liked the Cougar line of pistols and have wanted a Cougar model 8000 (9mm) Inox (stainless) ever since I saw a pic of one on the internet. I have never even held a 8000 Inox and have never seen one in person but boy what a sweet looking gun it is. The rumor is that Beretta only imported maybe 1200 of them into the USA. So I figured my chances of ever owning one, especially with my medical problems, were slim to none.
I had told my brother about a year ago that I would own one before I died. I was of course talking tounge in cheek and was not really being serious. Well my brother remembered me saying that and knows that I have sold most of my guns in the last year. We were talking the other day about what gun we would like and I mentioned the Cougar 8000 Inox of course like I do everytime this subject comes up. He said " I am going to help you get that gun." Of course I asked how. He said "This is the deal". "Come up with half of the cost and I will cover the other half. It will be our gun to share but you can keep it at your house. If you beat your cancer I will give my half to you. If, God forbid, you do not beat the cancer I will sell the gun and give the money to your family."
Well that sounded great to me. Only problem I had now was how to come up with my half. I thought about it and thought about it some more. I figured surely I have something else I could sell. I found several things that I would have no use for, no matter what the outcome of my life, for several years. Old magazines (the gun type that bullets fit into) from guns that I no longer had, an old chainsaw that I had alway meant to fix, a very old and cheap pushmower, bullets that I no longer had a gun chambered for, 2 old bicycles, etc....
I ended up selling a bunch of junk and raised my half. I actually raised about $150 more than I needed which was a blessing because we needed it for Christmas. I almost backed out of the deal though because now that I had the money I started thinking of how I needed it for other things.
I told my wife that I thought I should just use the money for something else and it was silly to even be thinking of buying the gun. I really was starting to feel guilty. She looked me in the eyes and said "Jeff, I want you to buy the gun." Well to be honest I was kind of taken back because my wife is the most practical person I have ever met. I said why? She said "James (my brother) called me after your agreement and talked to me. He said he knew I would think you were both crazy. But he wanted to explain himself, and he asked that I not tell you this unless you backed out of the deal. James wants you to have the gun because he wants you to live. He said that he knew how much it hurt you to have to sell so many of your things, things that were important to you, and that he wanted to see you have something that you have always wanted. He said that he could have just bought the gun for you but he didnt for 2 reasons. He wanted you to have some money in the gun so you would feel right about having it and not feel guilty. He also wanted you to prove to yourself that when you want something bad enough that you can make it happen. He wants you to take that same energy that you put into raising the money for the gun and apply it to your health. He wants to see you live."
Chokes me up right now typing that. My wife is standing behind me to remind me to get what she said right and is crying. What a wonderful person to have as a brother and a friend.
Well now on to the gun. I had found one on Gunbroker but it was just a bit more than I wanted to give for it. I wanted to keep as much of the money as I could for Christmas presents (we have not bought anything for anybody yet). I was just about to give in and buy when I decided to check the classifieds on Berretaforum.net forum. And lo and behold there was the gun for $70 cheaper than the one on Gunbroker. I have not got the gun yet, have not even sent the money order yet. But I will be sending it the first of next week.
You know my mind tells me to feel guilty but my heart says to enjoy it. My brother has tried to teach me something in his own little way and I think I understand it. Besides, with the extra money I raised it means that my children will not go without presents under the tree. I think everything is going to work out just fine in the end, I really do.
You all keep praying for me and I will do the same for you.
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