A TIME FOR DEER AND THOSE DEAR TO US (November 9 - December 4, 2018)

We winged our way from the resort at Fairfield Glade,Tennessee back to Missouri and our son's home in Republic.  We would spend the time, before heading to Grand Cayman Island, visiting with his family, enjoying a family Thanksgiving in Branson, Missouri (Wyndham Mountain Vista), and, finally, in Indiana executing doctor and dentist visits and visiting Sherry's mom.

Nearly every day at Aaron's home, I spent some time in the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.  Sometimes hiking the numerous rustic trails and other times driving the 5 mile Loop Road looking for white tail deer.  Most of those drives were shared with my youngest grandson, Ethan.  We, also, saw him march in the Republic Holiday Parade.

Thanksgiving saw my daughter and her family drive in from Indiana.  We spent four days with everybody at the Wyndham Mountain Vista Resort in Branson.  We shared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, watched both Indiana and Michigan lose football games, worked a giant crossword puzzle, and just hung out together.

We rode with Autumn's family back to Indiana and stayed a week before leaving for Grand Cayman Island. 



REFLECTIONS

As I sat in the van and watched the numerous deer graze in a recently harvested corn field, I reflected on how much I love the outdoors.  I have always been one that would rather sit on the porch or walk in the woods.  Hunting and fishing have been long time hobbies.  But, with the implantation of a pacemaker a decade ago, the hunting aspect of my outdoor enjoyment ceased.  The recoil of a shotgun to my device could be lethal.  Now I hunt with my camera.  It's not quite the same.  It doesn't provide meat for the table. 

Yet the hunt is the same.  Trying to figure out where the deer will be and where a good spot would be for the best shot (picture).  The excitement of seeing a big buck emerge from the woods right where you thought he'd be and knowing that your scouting and planning had paid off is still a rush.  And it's something I should be able to do for a long time.

I am reminded that when things change it is not time to just pout and give in to self pity and resignation.  It is time to explore other options and chances to continue to live a full and rich life, enjoying all that lies before you and never forgetting that "the best is yet to come".