Past 4 days

Well another year of deer camp gone by. No deer to show for it but still get that warm fuzzy feeling each year. It is not just the thrill of the hunt or the company of good friends. It means so much more to me. It takes me back to the times I would go with my Dad. He ran our deer hunting like a military mission. Now I am a bit more relaxed then Dad was however the passion is there just as much. I can remember being about 7 or 8 and Dad had just bought me a 20 guage double barrel shot gun. And I would tel Dad the deer I had seen in the wood. He would ask " why didnt you shoot it"? I would come up with a list of reasons but none of them were the true one. But leave it to a Dad to know. He called me out. He put a bottle on top of a fence post and told me to shoot it off. I would simply tell him I dont want to. ANd it was then he knew I was terrified to shoo the gun. I was affraid it was gonna knock me on my ass and hurt. Well after about 30 min I gave it a try. It did hurt but I knew I was gonna survive.

My Dad was such a die hard. We would leave at 4am get in the woods. come out about 11am. have some lunch at the truck. then go in the woods we we were gonna be in the evening catch a nap in the woods and wake up and hunt there till after dark. come home have some dinner, play ards, and off to bed by about 8 pm. And we would do this for almost 7 days straight. And to go that long with no deer is really a bumber. So this weekend we would still be up by 4 and out in the woods when it is still dark. But we would come home for lunch then back in the woods by 130 or 2. and stay out till dark. We did get to bed early. Had to. Yesterday I was on fumes. We did soooo much walking then sitting, my feet and back are still not speaking to me.

And some people may not get it. It is the trill of the hunt. But there is more to it. At least to me. for example the time you get settles in the woods and there is dead silence, the little things you hear are amazing. A grasshopper jumping sounds like a freight train. Or seeing the animals playing. Not to mention the time you have jsut to yourself to think. THink of the past, present future. It is some of the best therapy. Everyone needs to go to a place for about 3 hours at least once a week in dead silence and just reflect.

Well I guess that is it for this post. And Melissa and Megan, please quit blowing up my phone. There is no need to fight over me. And a special shout out to Megan for comming up to Springfield to babysit me in my room on Tues night. Although I was a bad boy the punishment fit the crime and I thank you for that.

LJ