I like being there when God turns the lights on. I feel like it’s “Bring Your Kid to Work” day. I have a special seat. I sit there, quietly, and watch how the Boss gets things started for the day shift.
I like being there when God turns the lights on. I feel like it’s “Bring Your Kid to Work” day. I have a special seat. I sit there, quietly, and watch how the Boss gets things started for the day shift.
Hunters have the privilege of witnessing spectacular events.
When you have on camo in town, it has the opposite effect than what it was designed for. In the woods, camouflage allows you to blend in with your surroundings. In town, you stand out. Heads turn, people ask you how your day went, and conversations begin. Your nice work clothes tend to have the opposite effect, too. That high dollar designer shirt you were so proud you found on sale gets overlooked like kids pass up salad in the pizza buffet line. When a group of hunters sit down a table, there’s usually an interesting story that’s waiting to be heard.
You sure you got everything?
The early morning meetings. These usually occur when someone picks up another person along the way. I remember so many times, having to whisper in either my house or someone else’s house because the rest of the family is “still” sleeping. They should be. It’s 4 0′clock in the morning! Some of the more relaxed meetings occur when a vehicle is left in town at the outer edges of the completely empty parking lot. I always enjoyed helping transfer gear from one vehicle to another under the dim glow of parking lot lights, dome lights and running lights on the truck. It’s a pretty cool atmosphere akin to a dance club. All similarities end there!
Phone calls to and from home. There’s the “Hey, we made it okay” phone calls, when you first arrive. (Unless it’s too early.) Then there’s the “Check in” calls, where you see how the family’s day went without you. These are often combined with the “Goodnight” calls. My favorite calls are the outgoing calls that inform friends and family that you’re bringing meat home with you!
Long, quiet, dark drives. On the way out of town, they provide you with a chance to leave stress at the city limit sign. You’re on your way to go spend a day, weekend, or even long weekend doing something you love. You have control on how you’d like to spend your time during the ride. A little rock and roll to keep you awake in the wee hours? Windows down, to let in the sweet smell of the weeds and grasses that bring you back to when you were a kid? Or, do you prefer a more relaxed ride where you dim the dashboard lights, kick back and enjoy the silence? The dashboard lights never looked brighter to me than when I was on those early morning hunting trips.
Nice view from here!
On the way home, you have the time to reflect on your outdoor experiences. Maybe you encountered more animals than expected and your coolers and hunting license tags got a workout! You can plan how to unload the vehicle when you arrive. It can be a bit depressing because you’re exhausted and you know the daily routine of the workweek is awaiting you with open arms. But fear not, you’ve had all this time to pray, clear your head, and start over mentally refreshed even though you’re physically exhausted. It’s an awesome dichotomy.
Get out there and get to know hunting a little better. I wish I could spend more time with “Hunting”. Sometimes I wish “Hunting” lived next door. But if it did, it wouldn’t have a lot of those endearing qualities. Then again, I hope “Hunting” never moves to town.
