Where Did The Years Go?

It does go quick. I sure did enjoy watching him grow up from afar.

Of note, related to that, it is Gus’ 11th birthday today.
 
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Happy birthday to Gus. For me age 11 is where it really started getting fun. Youth baseball spring, summer and fall, and then duck season. Hardly a week went by we weren't having fun. Maybe that's why is went too damn fast.
 
Congratulations Eric, you've done a great job raising Thomas. I remembered the picture of him when he was young, but he's so grown up in that recent photo I did a doubletake. I hope you and he enjoy many years afield together, now it's your turn to let him be the muscle.
 
Eric,

Tell Thomas Congrats on his graduation. It has been a pleasure following some of his shared adventures.

There is a neighbor of mine who graduates this year as well. When he was about the same age as Thomas in the first photo, Matt (my neighbor boy) would come over and take care of "Jack" (my previous dog) during the times I would be away from home. Now his younger sister is the one I call to help out with "Ginger", my present dog.

A younger person and/or a young adult who has been raised to be hardworking and dependable is a valuable asset to any community. It is with great confidence that I can say, Thomas, Matt and Elizabeth (Matt's sister), are going to be solid citizens in their respective communities. Congrats to them all.

What lies ahead for Thomas in his future plans?

PS; My second oldest granddaughter is graduation this spring also. Now I feel old,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, [pirate]
 
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Huntindave McCann said:
Eric,


What lies ahead for Thomas in his future plans?

Thomas plans to attend Alabama in the fall. Going to community college for a year and then going to Alabama is another option. He is leaning towards a career in construction management but isn't totally positive. He will be one of those kids that figures it out as they go along.

I recently told my parents they were lucky because my two brothers and myself knew what we wanted to do early and went and got our educations in short order and followed through with our careers. No playing around and taking years to figure out what our careers would eventually be. I didn't really realize in my teens and early twenties just how common it is for people change careers and even string out school over many years. I still think knocking it out while young and moving on with life is the easiest path, and we certainly made it easier on our parents doing it that way. I'm trying to get Thomas to come to the same conclusion. Not sure he's hearing me....

Eric
 
Congratulations to Thomas and yourself. Takes a ton of work to get a kid through school.

If you don't mind me asking - Is the photo your Son's Senior picture and is this what made it into the yearbook? MN does not allow pictures with guns and thus the question.

Mark
 
Eric Patterson said:
Huntindave McCann said:
Eric,


What lies ahead for Thomas in his future plans?

Thomas plans to attend Alabama in the fall. Going to community college for a year and then going to Alabama is another option. He is leaning towards a career in construction management but isn't totally positive. He will be one of those kids that figures it out as they go along.


Eric

A friend of our Son's just graduated from a school up here called Dunwoody Institute with a degree in construction management. 2 year program and in this field it is 100% placement. He was offered multiple jobs all at a salary many would be envious of. He is being deployed the day after graduation to somewhere (Patriot Missile Battery command) and then starts the next chapter.

Mark
 
Congrats to the Patterson family! I remember when you posted that photo and how proud you were. Although my son's grew up with different aspirations I'm proud of them and their accomplishments but I also enjoyed reading of you and Thomas's adventures through the years. With the events in Texas today (prayers be with them) and here just down the road from me in Dixon Illinois this week you SHOULD be proud. Thomas has been a testament of you and your wife's family values and how you've been a apart of your boys upbringings. Good luck to Thomas in his future endeavors.
 
Mark

The picture was not in the yearbook. That does bring up a story though. In 8th grade we wanted to put an ad in the annual that included a picture of Thomas hunting. The principal told us no that is was against school policy. I contacted a friend who was on the school board who in turn contacted the superintendent. As it turned out, as I suspected, there was no rule against photos in annuals with kids and guns. The principal made the rule up because she didn't like guns. Now here is where it gets interesting. That very same principal was fired for ethics violations and then her about to be ex husband was murdered. How was he murdered? You guessed it, by gunshot. They never charged his wife but everyone knows she did it, including the police. She didn't pull the trigger, she orchestrated it. So, the lesson from her was responsible gun ownership is not to be tolerated, but a little murder now and then is called for.

Eric
 
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Eric,
The time does seem to go at light speed. my son will also be graduating and I often wonder; how did it go so fast?
I wish I could go back and slow it down somehow. They go from boys to men in a flash. Just have to love the hell out of them and enjoy every second.

Zane
 
Tod,
Happy birthday to Gus. If you have not read Gene Hill's "A listening Walk and other stories" Wanted a Ten Year Old Wanted, I highly recommend it. A Very enjoyable read. Relevant even for a salty eleven year old.
Zane
 
Congrats Thomas and Eric. So I guess we will need to move him out of that Turrnbull National Wildlife Refuge Young Hunter brochure.[;)]
 
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