Another trip home to Missouri this last weekend and it gets easier / harder each trip. I’m so incredibly lucky in finding my GF Linda and she means the world to me in every way. Additionally I get the privilege of being “dad” to her wonderful daughter Amanda…AKA turtle…. they have been a part of my life for almost 1 year and lived with me for a little over 5 months. I can not imagine life without them both.
Things have returned to normal after a serious scare when Linda got sick and was in the hospital for 5 days. Times like that not only make you appreciate what you have in life but how quickly it can be taken away. When we go to my parents I find so much joy being home, surrounded by my family that is so far away. At the same time it is so hard to see the changes in my father. Each trip I see him weaker, quieter and just less himself. It is so hard to see the man that was always so alive vibrant and active become this changed man. He was the first to crack a joke or pick on someone.
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Recent family events have got me reminiscing on my past and looking at where my life stands today. My grandmother (dads mom) is in the hospital today and has been in the hospital on and off for the last two weeks. It started with dehydration, diarrhea and a sever sinus infection which my parents were trying hard to get her to call an ambulance and go to the hospital. She refused and so my parents traveled to St. Louis to take her at which point they admitted her into the hospital. Since then she has been in and out with the flu, pneumonia and most recently bronchitis and diarrhea. Most recently she is telling the doctors and my mother she is tired of it and wants to die.
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Something has been on my mind for several months that I will try to explain it to you all today. Fair warning this is not a story of silliness and mayhem but of life and its struggles.
Growing up it was never a question of how strong my family was and my father was a solid rock in our family foundation. Dad was a high school football coach most of my young years and it was common to hear the words “Suck it up!” around the house. This wasn’t a demand or a motto but an expectation for us all. If you fell down… you got up, if you were sad or upset…. you got over it and if you wanted things to be different….. you worked harder to change it; all in all you “Suck it up!”.
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Posted in Family, Father, Huntingtons Disease, Values | 2 Comments »
The Pre Hunt 8/30/04
This adventure began several months ago when I was talking with my friend since college Dan. I told him that I wanted to go elk hunting with him and my other college pal Jim next season.
I was to soon find out that Jim had already made different plans for the 2004 season. He has promised a few of his work comrades to take them into the Colorado Mountains to hunt for elk and he would guide them on their journey. Continue Reading »
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Story from 1982:
Growing up in southern Missouri and living in the country made hunting and fishing second nature. I was hunting small game as soon as I could hold a gun in my hands. My father is an avid sportsman but he prefers football and other sporting type events to fishing or hunting. He taught me at a young age the basics of fishing and gun safety. He was never excited about the adventures outdoors though he always encouraged and supported me until I was old enough to do it on my own. Hunting and fishing are still my biggest passions.
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Posted in Father, Growing Up, Hunting, Hunting Whitetail, Learning, Youth | No Comments »
