Lustrum or so ago when I retired, I would occasionally mention to friends attending a CAS match, "This Game is slowly Dying." Was told how full of crap I was. Well, CAS and NCOWS are dying. Kicking, Screaming, Clawing and Scratching, but Dying none the less. It's inevitable. Those of "us" who grew up on Saturday Matinees of "B" Westerns, then TV Westerns (all of which are now dead) and make up the vast majority of CAS and NCOWS have gotten ...... OLD. Youth is not enamored of this game. Youth is not fascinated with the history of western expansion and the like. Their cup of tea is "Tron."
When I started in this game, we were all ....... young(er). Much younger. If we looked down the firing line, at the loading tables, at the lunch tables, guys and gals over 35 were the exception and age based categories had few takers. If we take the time to look down the line today, well, it seems all those you folks got ..... old. Major match = 6 Gunfighters. 16 Senior Giunfighters and Silver Seniors and ....
So don't blink. It will all be gone. Let us enjoy it while we can. Big and Close, Small and Far, are of no account. The idea is get out and play while you still can. It may not be played the way you think it should be played, but quit bellyaching 'cause we're on borrowed time.