Five years ago, my oldest son was ten when i first took him out deer hunting with me. We were out for three days, and I can still remember slowing down so he could keep up, and him stumbling, exhausted, back to the cabin like the walking wounded every night. He's now a high school freshman. This year on opening day, as i struggled up a fairly steep ridge, i looked up to see him 20 yards ahead of me, patiently waiting for me to caught up. For the first time in my life, i feltmy mortality stalking me in the distance. Later that day, we were about three miles deep in the woods when we dropped our deer. The terrain was nasty, and a half mile into the drag out, he offered to take over hauling the carcass for a while. The bugger dragged it all the way out without a break (although at 6'1", 245 one could argue he's well suited to the task), all the while conversing about the merits of side by sides versus over/unders, and Tim Hortons versus Dunkin Donuts.
The purpose of this anecdote? A reminder that time is fleeting, and a plea to all of my friends here to enjoy the holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or the Solstice, please enjoy your friends and your family. We are all of us dying every minute we live, and in the tumult of our jobs, our political disagreements, and the clutter that makes up our lives, we often forget what's important.
Take the time to bask in the season, and simply enjoy the company of those that you love. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters.
I needed that. I'm having a particularly tough Christmas this year as my own parents and in-laws are fading (health-wise and mentally) right in front of my eyes.
Time is the gift, and your reminder is valued and appreciated.
Good post boysda, same thing going on here. My oldest boy shot his first deer when he was 9, now hes also a freshman in high school.It seems like I get cold easier that I used to, my eyes arent what they used to be, and where I used to enjoy going out into the thick stuff to hunt I increasingly find myself hunting the edges now.
The boy on the other hand has turned into a machine LOL, he can sit motionless for hours in the cold without complaint, hes trapping the sloughs this year and since hes got his hunting license and can legally hunt by himself he spends more time in his own stands and less time by my side.He can shoot, track, and field dress his own deer and the last one he drug out by himself.It kinda makes you proud and sad at the same time, its wierd feeling watching em.
boysda, thanks for putting those thoughts into words for us. I have four kids, 16 y.o. boy, 13 y.o. daughter, 10 y.o. boy and 5 y.o. daughter. When I sit and think about where they have been and where they might possibly go in life the emotions that fill me are amazing.
I'll take this opportunity to wish all in this political forum a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2009. May God richly bless you and your families.
Five years ago, my oldest son was ten when i first took him out deer hunting with me. We were out for three days, and I can still remember slowing down so he could keep up, and him stumbling, exhausted, back to the cabin like the walking wounded every night. He's now a high school freshman. This year on opening day, as i struggled up a fairly steep ridge, i looked up to see him 20 yards ahead of me, patiently waiting for me to caught up. For the first time in my life, i felt my mortality stalking me in the distance. Later that day, we were about three miles deep in the woods when we dropped our deer. The terrain was nasty, and a half mile into the drag out, he offered to take over hauling the carcass for a while. The bugger dragged it all the way out without a break (although at 6'1", 245 one could argue he's well suited to the task), all the while conversing about the merits of side by sides versus over/unders, and Tim Hortons versus Dunkin Donuts.
The purpose of this anecdote? A reminder that time is fleeting, and a plea to all of my friends here to enjoy the holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or the Solstice, please enjoy your friends and your family. We are all of us dying every minute we live, and in the tumult of our jobs, our political disagreements, and the clutter that makes up our lives, we often forget what's important.
Take the time to bask in the season, and simply enjoy the company of those that you love. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters
This season,
