Asking for thoughts !

Bill T

Bill T

Active member
Family can be funny you never know how to take it .You bust your but at work to have money for toys and cool clothes for your kids is that the way .My parents were that way , My dad busted his but for us kids and my mom sacraficed so much so we could have but in the end i look back where were the fishing trips and hunting trips with dad go . I did not have that ,self tought .Time is the biggest gift there is . So i try to learn from the "I wish it would have bean like that thoughts".And this Christmas i had it slapped in my face by my 8 Yr old son.After all the presents and gifts he asked for "time" with me No toys no money needed -Time was it . It goes to Damn fast .
Last week my mother went in the Hospital ,Haveing a hard time breathing at all . Smokeing, Has played a big part in it if not %100 . I'm mad as hell that It could take her away from me.my dad,my son and my soon to be wife and her 2 children .She is still in the hospital trying to beat it but i did not like the fealing that i got when i talked to her . So in the back of your mind keep the word TIME because that is the most important thing there is ,it only takes 1 second to make a memory !
 
You asked, so I'll share this.

Much like you my Dad didn't do much with me either. I never let it bother me too much and life just went on. Fast forward to me being married and having two young daughters. At the time I was really into archery. I worked second shift and so did my neighbor. He and I would get up mid morning and head for the local archery range at least four days a week. We would practice till it was time to go home grab a bite to eat and head to work. Weekends were spent at various towns around the state and beyond, competing in tournaments. I shot in three different [font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]leagues[/font] each week. It was not uncommon for me to shoot at two different towns in the same weekend. When I wasn't competing, I was either practicing or hunting with my bow.

One day my wife confronted me and said "Your girls are growing up with out you. Is this what you want?" I quit the competition cold turkey flat out. Best decision I ever made. Time is the most valuable gift you can give anyone.
 
Bill

Hang in there buddy. Sometimes the work treadmill gets the best of us or our hobbies consume us. My kids are growing up oh so fast and a lecture or two from Michelle to set me straight on that.

Saturday Thomas made a memory for me and I for him. Very special day.

ThomasCassie.jpg


ThomasKayak.jpg



ThomasGaddy.jpg



ThomasOnKayak.jpg

 
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Eric,

Nice job on the birds, sounds like you have found your honey hole this year. It won't be to many years before Thomas and Andrew will be taking the "old man" to the honey holes they have located......
 
I also noticed from the photos that you are seeing the same thing as I am on the birds harvested. It is a positive side to hunting in Al. This late in the season the birds are REALLY showing their color aren't they ?? Fully plumed out gads are beautiful birds and getting ready for the pair bonding thing.

The Cans and Goldeneyes on the river are showing their colors too.
 
Jeff

That's more selective photography than anything else. They were actually on the small juvie side. Things were slower this Saturday than last and I'm afraid the area may be played out. We heard almost no shooting. Joey reported seeing only around 12 ducks Sat afternoon.

Gonna try and call you in a couple minutes if you catch this.
 
Bill, about all I could say on the subject is, #1.. I pray for your Mom and #2..print out your post and tape it where you will read it first thing every day and vow that your kids won't be able to say the same thing in 20 years.
 
Thank you for your thoughts . I'm positive every thought thrown her way will help her pull through this !
 
Made a commitment to my boy to go ice fishing this year, no matter what. Well this weekend I headed out on a rainy saturday mid-day with him cause we had to get out of the house. Called a friend and he was stir crazy too. He met us at a nice lake and we "road ice fished". Just getting started got me so into it that a second call was made. Next thing you know it is near 70 deg., clouds are gone, and 5 kids are with their dads on a lake shore beach playing in the woods with ones new christmas metal detector and six rods in the water. Wouldn't you know we even caught a few trout. Best part was when they found an old rusty jackknife. You would think it was the gold rush after that.
As we rode home near dark, I thought about times I got to spend with my Dad. Even thou he was a V. busy man I will aways remember the fun outings we had, even if I wished we could have had more.
Oh and to keep it duck related, we got to watch Geese, divers and puddlers pile into the lake all afternoon. On a lake I considered to be only marginal for having birds.
My familys prayers are with you and your mom. Think about the good times and build on those strong memories in these tough ones.
.
 
If I were a betting man, my guess is that no one on their death bed ever says "I wish I would have spent more time at work". There is nothing more important than spending time with family and friends in my opinion. A couple of years back I made the personal committment to spend time, quality time, every night with my kids. Is it hard - you bet. More so with my 14 year old daughter. Does it happen every day - no.

Spend the time with the people you care about and it will come back to you in spades.

I am sorry to hear about your Mom. We'll keep her in our families thoughts.

Mark W
 
Hello Bill; I also look back and wonder---now that my son is 44, what if??? My wife and I make every effort to attend all family activities with my son and daughter etal---granddaughter is 22 and working her way through college. As long as you keep the door open with a welcome sign and send them unconditional love all will be happy for you later on. Harry Chapan wrote a song called " Cat in the Cradle " --every time I hear it I have tears in my eyes wondering----just move forward and do the best you can.
My prayers are with you and your family for your mother's recovery. Jerry
 
Bill my thoughts and prayers are with you. My fondest memories of growing up were times spent with my Dad. As the years went by we spent less and less time doing things together. Over the years and miles apart we didnt see much of each other and didnt talk much. When he died in 99 I had realized how very little time we had spent together or just talking on the phone. But I was thankful that I had those times together when I was young. It made me realize that I had spent very little time with my kids. Now they are grown and married, starting families on there own. My youngest son lives in our basement apartment with his wife. I am very lucky to be able to spend more time with him now working on cars or fishing, hunting or just hanging out. I relish the visits I get with my three grandchildren. They are just awesome, always make time for family they are what it's all about. Spend every minute you can with your kids you will never regret it!
 
Bill:I lost my mother and father when i was 24 years old---so I've spent the last 40 years without my parents.

My wife on the other hand has both parents alive and active in their late 70s and both smoke 2 packs a day!

Life is really a mystery....Jesus who could have been born in the finest palace ever built choose a manger with straw for his "silk".

Our prayers are with you and your loved ones for the strength and the faith we need during these difficult times.
Tom
AFISHN

"when I'm not a huntin',I'm AFISHN"
 
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