Sunday, September 9, 2007

Memories of My Dad

My dad has been one of the most influential, outstanding, and knowledgeable men in my life as I grew up and to this day. I've seen him do things that would have been thought impossible with almost nothing to work with and in the most unbelievable places. I guess the memories that stick out most in my life of my dad would be back when I was around 8 or 9 years old. On almost every Sunday morning when we would all get up the first thing we would do is, us boys would go out with a coffee can to hunt for worms while mom would fix a big breakfast. As soon as everyone ate breakfast we would load all the fishing gear into dad's old 68 Chevy truck and head down to one of the rivers close to home for a morning of fishing. It didn't matter where we went fishing though cause we all enjoyed just been out away from home relaxing along the riverbank taking in the scenery,playing in the cool water and spending time with dad.Dad would always try his best to make sure that everyone of us boys would at least catch one fish before we would leave for home. When we would get home it would be us boys that would clean the fish we had caught and that's what we would usually eat for supper Sunday night.Fresh fish,homemade hush puppies and homemade french fries with homemade tartar sauce, man what a meal that would be(can you taste it?). After returning home and cleaning the fish ,us boys would get several of our friends to come over for a few games of football and dad would fire up the grill for some big fat hamburgers for lunch while watching us play football. In the fall I remember dad taking me squirrel hunting to a place behind this old country church with nothing but big hickory nut trees behind it and we would still hunt with our 22 rifles cause mom didn't like any wild game that had been shot with a shotgun( she didn't like picking buckshot or the hair from her meat). As I grew older I practiced with the 22 and got good enough to shot rabbit sitting or running just for mom. Dad was always there to help me work on my truck regardless of what I was doing to it and would always tell me I was doing things the hard way then show me the easy way of fixing it(and he's still there helping me out whenever I need him today).My dad has alot of health problems today and most he doesn't even tell mom about or go get checked by the doctors but he still gets around fairly well for a man to be 83 years old. I don't do funerals very well and don't like to think about his passing coming anytime soon. Mom's health is bad and dad takes care of her really well, I only fear that when one goes they both will go at the same time due to the closeness of their companionship as I have seen all to many end up the same way.God help me when this day comes.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

An amazingly moving post and I thought about my own father who I lost a couple of years ago. This week I have been preparing for an Antelope hunt out west and the last time I spent time in Wyoming was with him. I am sure it is going to be a week of thinking of the many many great memories of the times my father was there for me!

Thank you for posting your article!

deerslayer said...

Thank You Kevin; I hope you have a great time in Wyoming hunting antelope and remembering all the great moments you shared with your father while you are there. Sometimes remembering those great moments seems to make us fell as if our fathers were right there with us even now and in some ways they are. Again have a great trip and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Thank Heavens my Dad is still with me. Spent a great Labor Day weekend fishing and having fun with him at my aunt and uncles place in Northern Michigan. I'm always grateful for times like that one.

deerslayer said...

Kristine; Anytime you get to spend time with loved ones it's always great moments and they make for some great memories later in life.Glad you still have him around to enjoy,so do I.

Anonymous said...

Nice post and thanks for linking to htt;://www.brightideaoutdoors.com in your sidebar.

deerslayer said...

Hi Matt; The post was just a way of honoring my dad and gave me a chance to relive some memories of him when I was younger. I've put your link on both my sites since the first time I looked at your site. I need to add more but just haven't had the time. Thanks for stopping by see you soon.

Othmar Vohringer said...

A very moving post that took be back in time in memory of my own father and mother and the many outdoor experiences we have had.

-Othmar Vohringer-

deerslayer said...

Hi Othmar: Well actually my post was really just me remembering the great times my father and I have had together as I do every year just before any hunting season and any time my wife and I go fishing. Even though this was some of my memories of my parents I'm still glad this post has recalled so many memories for everyone reading it. These comments have given me such great pleasure and are so sincere that I wish I could be there with everyone of you just to sit and chat about the old days when we hunted with our fathers and in some cases I quess our mothers too. Thanks for the kind comment.