Went turkey hunting this past weekend at Rose Hill. The trip was not successful from the standpoint of bringing home a bird for the table. We will need to get a Butterball turkey at Krogers for that. But it was successful as far as getting away from it all and spending time with nature. There are worse ways to spend a weekend.
I did get off of a shot and perhaps I was too hasty and got off a hurried shot and missed completely. Or, as I later reflected, my ammo was about 10 years old - it may not have had enough oomph to get the job done. I did the math - the last time I went turkey hunting was with Joe when he was like 15 or so. From my perspective, it didn't seem possible that it was 10 years ago.
Then later in the afternoon I felt my boot heel start flopping. I sat down on a log to survey the damage. The entire sole was separating from my long trusted hunting boots. I had gotten them when I was 41, after my heart attack. When that happened I had resolved to start doing the things that I had been putting off - fishing, hunting, and travelling. Not many things crossed off my bucket list at that time. So I got the boots to go deer hunting. I had sought out a pair of Wolverines as those were the brand that my grandfather carried in his store and they have served me well. So 17 years, I calculated as I looked at the worn leather. It didn't seem possible that it was that long ago when I had first pulled them out of their box. Now they were wore out, spent.
The days are long, but the decades are short is one expression that I have heard from folks my age and older, and it certainly seems to apply. So I will buy some more outdoor gear and get set for next season. I have some grandchildren to take adventuring and teach them to enjoy their time and adventure now - before their days grow long. Now where is that Wolverine website - I need to get going before I am wore out and spent!
