public service message

[orionsbrother]

I posted something about this elsewhere and thought I'd put it here too.

It's that time of year, where if you're not in the field, you're planning, plotting, prepping, packing and practicing. It's easy to get hyper focused on hunting right now. It's all I want to think about. But make a little time for the people in your life. Don't take them for granted.

We all need to be reminded of that from time to time. My reminder just came. The daughter of one of my hunting buddies was walking home from work and was killed by a hit and run driver. They caught the guy.

I'll be hugging my kids a little longer and harder.

 

[muleman]

Condolences to you and your friend. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Ironman8]

Terrible to hear...condolences and prayers out to the family and loved ones.

 

[Muledeernv]

Condolences to the family and friends and I now I hugged my son tighter last nite.

 

[Mikeha33]

Thanks for mentioning this. I feel horrible for your friends family, & I'll throw up a prayer for them.

Just last week, I was out shooting my bow, and going for a hike after that, and my wife's uncle, who I am very close to, stopped by and told me, point blank, that I am letting my trip inundate my life. He was right. I cant focus on anything else, and my prep and planning has taken over my day to day routine, and I am sure that is where the term "Elkaholic" was born. I have a 2-1/2 year old and a 7 week, old, so just for my wife to "let" me go on a 9 day excursion, 1000 miles from home says a lot about the kind of woman she is, but until someone put it in perspective for me, it's amazing how far-sighted I had become, and taking advantage of whats right in front of me. I am having to make a conscious effort (that's terrible, I know) to make time for what is actually the most important thing for me, my family, this close to before my trip. It's made for a lot of late nights, but its been worth it, and she has noticed it, its just a dang shame that someone else had to point it out to me.

 

[orionthehunter1]

Thanks for the reminder I have been focused pretty hard for my upcoming mountain goat hunt, but I still take time for my family. Thoughts and prayers to your friend I couldn't imagine losing one of my kids

 

[orionsbrother]

Thoughts and prayers for them are greatly appreciated. My buddy would be pleased if even temporarily something positive rippled out from this tragedy.

I got home a little early the other night. Instead of doing my bike workout, the two older kids came with me for a ride. They were jacked to cover ground that mom doesn't take them on and wanted to keep going. Number two abandonned training wheels late and is on a simple single speed kid's bike, little legs pumping like pistons. We covered 8 1/2 miles. Not bad for two months out of training wheels.

Number three headed over in the predawn morning with me and while I hoofed the sledding hill, there were multiple pantomimed elk, deer and bear death scenes acted out with the four year old dramatically rolling down the hill in the dew filled grass.

I'll remember this stuff forever.

But the reality is that if my buddy's daughter, Emily, hadn't gotten killed, I wouldn't have done these "workouts" with the kids. For that, I feel like a dick. Don't lose your focus, we all need that. But don't be a dick.

Short bloodtrails.

 

[robby denning]

Amen!

 

[William Munny]

Thanks for mentioning this. I feel horrible for your friends family, & I'll throw up a prayer for them.

Just last week, I was out shooting my bow, and going for a hike after that, and my wife's uncle, who I am very close to, stopped by and told me, point blank, that I am letting my trip inundate my life. He was right. I cant focus on anything else, and my prep and planning has taken over my day to day routine, and I am sure that is where the term "Elkaholic" was born. I have a 2-1/2 year old and a 7 week, old, so just for my wife to "let" me go on a 9 day excursion, 1000 miles from home says a lot about the kind of woman she is, but until someone put it in perspective for me, it's amazing how far-sighted I had become, and taking advantage of whats right in front of me. I am having to make a conscious effort (that's terrible, I know) to make time for what is actually the most important thing for me, my family, this close to before my trip. It's made for a lot of late nights, but its been worth it, and she has noticed it, its just a dang shame that someone else had to point it out to me.

Same here. I didn't realize how consumed I have been until my 6 year old pointed it out. I leave for my elk trip on Wednesday, but am now at Disneyland until Sunday. The kids definitely earned this trip by putting up with me for the last few months.