Re: The leaves have turned top gold in the high country
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:21 am
Satrurday Meg and I (daughter) thought we'd take advantage of a beatiful day and head out on the horses to do a little elk hunting.
She questioned me once we were on the trail about not bringing along a gun,I told her we could still "hunt" elk,despite the gun.
As we worked our way up along the ridgeline,weaving through the aspen,pine and fir we took the time to stop and look occassionaly.These were the times I was most interested in.
We would chat a bit.Chat about life,her job and carreer,my carreer,the dogs,the horses,alot of things,some that mattered some that didn't.
The horses were eager to step out and it made the ride easy to enjoy,they had put the miles on over the summer and so there were no kinks to workout,no worries,it was good.
We made good time covering the ground quickly,pausing here and there to look,to listen.Listen to the woods and to each other.Fatherhood felt great,like a gift,I didn't want the ride to end.
I thought about a fatherhood moment that has stuck with me for years.Clayton (my son) was 9 years old and as we walked the street one day following the girls from one shop to the next
we talked about "stuff" and he took my hand.We held hands for about 10 minutes or so and I lapped it up,savoured it,every second cause I knew this could be the last time,and it was.Big boys don't do that out here in this country.
This day was just like that day so many years before,I knew things may never be the same again and I wanted to hold on to it as long as possible.
We topped out on little rise and decided to sit for a bit and enjoy the view and each others company.
As we sat there a nice whitetail buck appeared from nowhere and slipped beneath our position,the wind was right so he had no idea we were there.It was awesome!
After the buck evaporated into the timber we talked it over and agreed that we had shared a beautiful opportunity together.
I told Meg to remember this day as a day we shared together and could never lose.
The ride back was a little somber for me,I didn't want to see it end.Meg suggested that I too remember this day as the day she "kicked my ass"and spurred her little bay into high gear!
She did kick some butt!What a great hunt!
She questioned me once we were on the trail about not bringing along a gun,I told her we could still "hunt" elk,despite the gun.
As we worked our way up along the ridgeline,weaving through the aspen,pine and fir we took the time to stop and look occassionaly.These were the times I was most interested in.
We would chat a bit.Chat about life,her job and carreer,my carreer,the dogs,the horses,alot of things,some that mattered some that didn't.
The horses were eager to step out and it made the ride easy to enjoy,they had put the miles on over the summer and so there were no kinks to workout,no worries,it was good.
We made good time covering the ground quickly,pausing here and there to look,to listen.Listen to the woods and to each other.Fatherhood felt great,like a gift,I didn't want the ride to end.
I thought about a fatherhood moment that has stuck with me for years.Clayton (my son) was 9 years old and as we walked the street one day following the girls from one shop to the next
we talked about "stuff" and he took my hand.We held hands for about 10 minutes or so and I lapped it up,savoured it,every second cause I knew this could be the last time,and it was.Big boys don't do that out here in this country.
This day was just like that day so many years before,I knew things may never be the same again and I wanted to hold on to it as long as possible.
We topped out on little rise and decided to sit for a bit and enjoy the view and each others company.
As we sat there a nice whitetail buck appeared from nowhere and slipped beneath our position,the wind was right so he had no idea we were there.It was awesome!
After the buck evaporated into the timber we talked it over and agreed that we had shared a beautiful opportunity together.
I told Meg to remember this day as a day we shared together and could never lose.
The ride back was a little somber for me,I didn't want to see it end.Meg suggested that I too remember this day as the day she "kicked my ass"and spurred her little bay into high gear!
She did kick some butt!What a great hunt!
