It's been awhile

 
It's been awhile since my last post, much has happened in our household-all for the better. It's early February and light snow is falling, we don't get very much here in New Jersey. A friend has traveled to Ireland to lay to rest a Mother in Law. All is as good as can be.

As the days pass I'm nearer my planned fall hunts-Ontario and then onto Manitoba, both are firsts for me. My expectations are high yet balanced, I realize that a 150 is a trophy there-a 150 is fine with me! The success of the trip will lie within the day I hit Omaha and hopefully hand off the venison to my brother for consumption. It will be a long ride home from Omaha this year if I'm to be home by Thanksgiving Day.

At the same time I'm filled with excitement as Friday I pick up my 7MM and 270wsm, both of which now sport a new muzzle brake. I'm not an advocate of muzzle brakes if your a range shooter, there a good way to lose friends on the range. I do however appreciate the new attitude that my 300wsm acquired once the muzzle brake was in use-it liked me and I liked it! Added to that I'm pending the arrival of my 2011 Saskatchewan mount, a new Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in .243 Caliber and hopefully a long awaited longbow, ordered over a year ago, still pending. Add it all up and there is much to be grateful for-God is Good!

It's been a little over a year since my Mother in Law passed, 7 months since my Father in Law joined her-they are missed. I think that we often overlook how much a person, especially a parent, plays in the roles of our lives. I find myself saying things Poppy said or moving my hand like Nanny did, and so it goes. I'd be proud if they'd live on through me.

It's been awhile, awhile since I sent my mount to the taxidermist, awhile since I put my rifles in the shop, awhile since I ordered the new longbow, awhile since I sent my deposits for Canada and awhile since I made the deal for the new .243. All should come to be in the near future. But more importantly, it's been awhile since I watched a Philly's game with my Father in Law, awhile since I took Nanny for a wheelchair ride or fed her lunch. It's been awhile since I've had to worry about what they thought about me marrying their daughter. Still it's as real as it was over a year ago. I still see it, feel it, smell it, they are still here with me everyday-and for that, I'm grateful.

I often look at the past as if it's still here, I reminisce, I cry, I smile-but I wouldn't change one detail. As my good friend Ernie would say-it is what it is! It's just been awhile.