oct/nov TBM brought tears

[elmerfudd]

#3949

How many of you ole grit an gristle stick bow shooters turned as soft as snow after reading Bear vs Deer and then it was backed right up with A Letter at Sunset. It hit close to home with me I lost my father in Aug 2009 my friend, mentor, and hunting fishing buddy. I also got parted with his 67 Bear Grizzly in 2002, but I still have all the wonderfull memories the articles were just so moving!

[David Petersen]

#27023

Elmer — such memories are bitter-sweet. You cherish them, yet at the same time they remind you of what is lost. At least your father was your “friend, mentor, and hunting fishing buddy.” I have no such memories to cherish, though my father was a very good man in his way. You might drop a similar note to TJ at the magazine, so that the authors will hear your praise. A frustrating thing about writing and publishing is that everyone is motivated to write an angry letter when something annoys us, yet when we see an article we like we just say, “that’s nice” and don’t share the good news. Editors figure one letter of praise is worth 10 of criticism. So your praise of those articles and writers will go a long way. A bowhunting father — I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. Dave

[Jason Wesbrock]

#27462

Elmer,

Thank you for the kind words. I sincerely appreciate it. One of the things that first drew me to reading TBM many years ago was the fact that they publish articles dealing with the emotional side of our pastime, not just the technical aspects. Writing that piece was a way for me to sort out some things I was having a difficult time working through after my father just up and left the party one Friday afternoon.

[tailfeather]

#32465

I really enjoyd it as well. Read it to my wife, as a matter of fact.

[strait-aero]

#32504

Yes,that was really a heart rendering story.:cry: Reread it, just to get the full effect. Quite the moving story, Mr. Wesbrook. Wayne

[SteveMcD]

#32776

“A Letter At Sunset” hit home, reminded me of my own Dad. Who was very much my hero and mentor. He did not hunt, but was wise enough to teach me to shoot. And he always had time to take us fishing, Bass, Trout, Deep Sea it was all good and contains my fondest memories.

What Jason put to pen was Beautiful and Eloquent and from the Heart. It made you reflect and move you. It was also deeply personal, no critique warranted. It was Beautiful is all that really needs to be said.

[William Warren]

#33016

I also appreciated “A Letter at Sunset”. My Dad is still with us but I know I will lose him one day. The story reminded me of the inevitable, which I don’t like to think about. When others are willing to share their loss with us we get a kind of strength from it knowing others have already blazed this trail and found a way to cope and remember their loved one.
Dad took me squirrel hunting starting when I was 8 yrs old. He was no real hunter but he was a country boy and new the basic woodsmanship skills which he passed on to me. We never really meshed, he and I. Me being so serious about my deer hunting and him finding the most joy in the social aspect of hunting and not really caring that much for the hunt itself. But I love him cause he’s my Dad.

[Lawrence Hansen]

#55248

David,

I echo your thoughts: what would it be like to have a dad who hunted:cry:? Mine is a non-memory. Child abuse is incomprehensible, I’m just uncovering mine at age 67. I don,t remember him as a result of the benefits of trauma repression. Downside was no dad for anything. Upside is I am stronger for it and my son had a dad who was (and is) there for him.

I too have read TBM for years and hear the admonition to forward praise for ssensitive and upbeat stories to TBM Admin. It,s the heart of TBM I hear and see in every issue in one form or another. One in ten odds? come on gang, respond………….

[RayB]

#55784

Yesterday, Oct 5 was the 48th anniversary of my dads passing, I was 10 Y.O.So when my son came along I had all these great plans as to what he and I would do together. He wasn’t interested. After H.S. he joined the Marines and was deployed to Afganistan. At least we thought it’s not Iraq. Well Oct 10 2005 we received the second worst call a parent can get from your sons commanding officer, he had been wounded and was being flown to Germany. The corp then called and said we should prepare to fly to Germany if we wanted to see our son alive.
Long story short, he proved them wrong. Now he makes plans for he and I. It’s only too late when they are gone. Get your sons/daughters out early and often. My memories will be me and my son, my dad passed too soon.

[jmsmithy]

#63650

All

Yes incredible pieces…Thank you to the authors…My Dad is/was my idol. Got me into hunting / fishing Archery etc…Unfortunate consequence of adulthood is the ability to see/understand our parents as folks like us, with failings as well. I’m 44 now and Dad still with us. Things have not been well =between us for last 7-8 years. Disappointments and disingenuousness has sadly, deeply clouded some wonderful memories. I’ve wrestled with the fact that he is still here for my boys, as well as my wife and I. That article helped me realize that, yes the failings are severe and tough to get over BUT, he is still here and someday won’t be. My boys adore him. My wife and I have been trying to put aside the hurt and realize that though you may not get over some things, you can get past them and move on….I have learned that I will always be honest with my boys, cherish them and do everything in my power to hold onto the love and respect I’ve fostered in them.

It’s been a hard realization but one, I think, needs to be made.

Be well my friends >>>–>

[Author]

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