Dear Dad,
It’s that time of year again. That little bluster of cold air today really got the ol’ trigger finger itchin’ again. Did you see that the DNR is shortening up the Grouse season this year? They say the count is down due to West Nile or Bird bug or some crazy thing. Kyle doesn’t believe it. He’s living in Mason, WI now, it’s near Ashland. Way up in Grouse country. He killed two in his driveway with his truck!
The dogs are locked in. Trish’s yellow lab is a dandy. Dumb as a hammer until I put pheasant wings down. Then she’s awesome. She was three for three on ‘find the bird’ tonight. Winds em’, finds em’ and brings em’ in.
Now I gotta do my part and put her and Gibson where there are birds. I know you thought it would never work using a herding dog for pheasants but they make great hunting dogs. “The tail never lies.” I tell the boys that all the time when we go hunting. Gibson’s tail is like a little helicopter rotor, almost picks his rear right up off the ground when he’s on a pheasant.
I start a new job next week. Yep, just over 21 years at Rawhide helping with those lost boys. It was a great run. I learned a lot. I feel like I grew up there. I finally feel grown up. God has given me another shot. I know you didn’t want me getting all religious but this is not that. It’s really about… well, I know you don’t want to hear that, but when you’re ready let me know I’d love to talk to you about Him.
Josie and Logan are off to college, both doing their thing. Cole… you and Grandpa would be proud of him and his gig as a musician AND bar manager now. That’s not the craziest even… Taryn is basically a farmer now. No, no, she’s milking, driving skid steer and pulling calves. Yep, pulling calves, crazy. Kyle’s married now, his wife Brianna is pretty cool, very artsy.
Trish is doing good. She quit her job recently. She tried to get through all the changes but it just wasn’t in the cards. I was about to go down there and have a talk with that new supervisor… if you know what I mean. She’s tough though, played her cards real cool, the staff really misses her. I hope I can be the husband she needs me to be from now on.
Dad, I know I blamed you for my ‘condition’, as it were. Please forgive me. I never hated you. Just the opposite… I wanted to be with you in the worst way when I was little.
Still do.
They always say, “better late than never.” I wasn’t in any condition to send this sooner but with the healing power of the love of Christ I am now, and so here it is, a bit late…
Your loving son,
Dave
Love this and you brother