| This is not a story about the big buck or bull that was bagged.
This is a story of how a bowhunter feels after 35 years of hunting and
fishing and living in this world.
 From
time to time things such as songs trigger something in our minds to make
us reflect back on our past and experiences in our lives.
It is kind of weird, but last week I went to a Gretchen Wilson concert
at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth, Texas. (For those of you who don't know, Gretchen
is an upcoming country western singer.)
The last song she sang was Pocahontas Proud. The name of her hometown
is Pocahontas, Illinois. I grew up in a small town 20 miles from
Pocahontas. (Pokey as all the locals call it.) My hometown
is Alhambra, Illinois. (Population 650)
When Gretchen sang this song it took me back to Illinois and the people
that raised me -- my mom and dad. I spent the first 26 years of my life
in Illinois before moving to Texas. I am sure that a lot of you have
never heard of it, but my dad was big into water racing dogs. To
quickly explain it, the dogs jumped out of a barrier and swam across a
lake -- the first dog to cross the finish line won money, real similar
to horse racing.
One place he used to race was Pocahontas. (Population 725) Gretchen
Wilson's song “Pocahontas Proud” made me see my dad racing his water
dogs.
As she sang this song I felt my eyes well up with tears, it was really
weird how those feelings hit me. Ever since, I have been thinking
about my life and how quickly the years have passed and how a lot of my
loved ones have also passed.
I am now 49 and I'm sure that I am at least half way through my living
years on this earth. I've had a great life so far. I was blessed
with a great wife and two healthy children who are now 23 an 18 years of
age. And I was blessed with two of the greatest parents god could
give.
My mother, who is still living, is 73 and has always been there for
me in good times and bad. She raised me in church and gave me a great
foundation to live my life. My dad who we lost 24 years ago was an
awesome father. He raised me to hunt and fish and to play sports.
I played college baseball at Eastern Illinois University and actually got
a chance to sign in 1977 and play a little pro ball. Man, those were
great years!!!!
As stated earlier, I have been bowhunting for 35 years. When I
started bowhunting most people thought I was crazy to try and hunt deer
with the old stick and string. (My first bow was a Ben Pearson
recurve.)
The first year I hunted I saw only three deer. Believe me when
I say you had to be dedicated bowhunter to stay with it. I can honestly
say that I love bow hunting more today than ever. Those years in
the 1960’s really make me appreciate what we have today. Bowhunting
has come a long way.
From time to time I hear bowhunters rip other bowhunters because of
the equipment they use. All I can say is “get a grip.” We live
in America where you are free to do what you want. As long as it's
legal, no one should have a problem with it. BOWHUNTERS NEED TO SUPPORT
BOWHUNTERS.
Bowhunting has helped me be who I am today. I feel like we all
need to take advantage of each and every day we have.
We all need to be appreciative to the good Lord for what he has provided
us. Things such as our families, our health, and just the fact that
we have a chance to be here in his world. I think it is human nature
to take things for granted.
I feel we need to live each day as if it was our last. It is amazing
how everything can change in a heartbeat. The other day I heard a
song that was entitled, Live Like You Were Dying (By Tim McGraw).
I think that is the attitude that each and everyone of us should have.
Don't take anything for granted; enjoy each day and show as much love
and compassion as humanly possible.
Remember John 3:16. God so loved the world so much that he gave
his only son. God gave his Son so that who ever believes in him would not
be lost but have eternal life.
Take care and safe hunting,
Rick
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