Thank you all for your prayers & understanding. I guess things happen for a reason . . . and sometimes I guess that I'm not supposed to know what that reason is. At least not yet anyway. There will always be one very good memory that stands out concerning my son (Scott) & I. Back in the early 80's I picked up a Pre-'64 Winchester model 88 in absolute mint condition for $100.00 even. Caliber .308. I mounted a 3 x 9 bushnell scope on it, loaded up some ammo, sighted it in & gave it to my son. I took him deer hunting that year in the area where I grew up. Northern PA in Tioga County. I put him up on a ridge where I knew he had a good chance, real good chance of seeing a buck while my youngest son (Danny) & I went down below to another good spot. After about an hour Dan & I heard a shot. I couldn't really tell where it came from as my hearing wasn't the best. Dan said that it had came from above and was sure it was Scott. We walked up & sure enough he had a nice six point laying there. He had shot it on the run as we often do in PA. Right behind the front shoulders. He was nervous & his hands were shaking a little. I handed him a knife & told him to gut it . . . but he was to nervous (LOL!). It was his very first buck and in fact very first deer. It was a wonderful day for all of us!
We dragged his deer out & went to his grandparents house to hang it up. His grandmother took me aside & said; "Did he really shoot that or did you do it for him?" I looked her dead in the eye & said; "He took that buck at about 100 yds. out on the run". "That's a fact". His grandmother smiled from ear to ear.
As little ones my boy's lived & breathed guns & hunting due to myself, his uncle's, his grandparents & the area's rich history of hunting. It seemed that everyone hunted including all, or most of the ladies. My sister-in-law Joyce was stiff competition as she shot a number of buck "on the run" and dropped them with one shot. It's the way we rolled. Many a day I would get home from work, grab the boys & go "Chuck hunting" (Woodchucks). They were always excited. Although my life has taken it's twists & turns, has been magic & yes, at times has been tragic, I have to look at it with positive fire and revel in the most memorable times.
-Pat
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
