My Dad I’ll Never Forget
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my dad and how much I miss him. He was the greatest dad a boy could have, and became my good friend as I got older. As hunting season approaches in a few months my memories, of course, are stirred to the fullest. With that in mind I would like to recite a poem I did several years ago in honor of my dad.
TODAYS ONE OF THOSE DAYS, DAD THAT I’M THINKING OF YOU AND ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE USED TO DO THE TIMES AND THE PLACES AND THE EXCITEMENT WE HAD OF THE FEELING AND JOY SHARED BY A SON AND HIS DAD.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE DEER HUNT OF SIXTY THREE? THERE WERE ONLY THE TWO OF US, JUST YOU AND ME. THE AIR WAS CRISP, THE SNOW NEW ON THE GROUND WHEN YOU DROPPED THAT OLE SIX POINT WITH ONLY ONE ROUND.
THE EXCITEMENT WE SHARED, AS YOU DRESSED OUT YOUR BUCK THE FIRST ONE IN TWENTY YEARS OF HUNTERS BAD LUCK. THEN CAME THE “MONSTER” WE’D ALL LIKE TO BEAT TO TOP YOUR ELEVEN POINT WOULD BE QUITE A FEAT.
THE SIX POINT WE DROVE YOU WAS THE SHOT OF THEM ALL NOW HE’S HUNG WITH THE OTHERS UP ON YOUR WALL. ” OLD NO-SHOOTIN” MIKE IS WHAT YOU USED TO SAY AFTER EACH BUCK I MISSED AND LET GET AWAY.
THE BEAR HUNT OF SEVENTY-SIX WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN MOST AS YOU, RANDY, AND ME ALL BAGGED TROPHIES TO BOAST. AS I SAT IN MY STAND, AND HEARD THE BLAST OF A GUN THE ANTICIPATION WELLED UP, HOPING YOU WERE THE ONE.
THEN CAME THE “BRONCO” WITH A BEAR ON THE HOOD AND THE SMILE ON YOUR FACE SAID YOUR SHOT HAD BEEN GOOD. THEN TWO DAYS LATER WITH DEAN AT MY SIDE I SHOT ME A TROPHY, BUT HE RAN OFF TO HIDE.
WE FOUND THAT OLE BRUIN WHERE GARY SAID HE WOULD BE DOWN BY THE CREEK PILED UP BY A TREE. I REMEMBER HOW HAPPY OUR CREW WAS THAT NIGHT AND HOW PROUD YOU WERE THAT I”D DONE IT RIGHT.
THE LAST YEAR OF BOW SEASON STANDS OUT IN MY MIND WITH YOU, LORNA, AND ME MISSING AGAIN FROM OUR BLIND. AS I WALKED OUT TO CHECK FOR THE ARROWS WE THREW THAT FENCE SEEMED TO GRAB HOLD OF LORNA AND YOU.
AS YOU OFFERED YOUR HAND TO HELP HER ACROSS YOUR FACES WOUND UP PRESSED INTO THE MOSS. I STILL HAVE TO CHUCKLE WHEN I SEE IT IN MY MIND THESE AND MANY OTHER MEMORIES YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND.
LIKE THE “TRIPLE” ON THOSE RINGNECKS, MANY YEARS AGO OR THE TRUDGING AFTER COTTONTAILS THROUGH THE WINTER SNOW. THE FISHING TRIPS TO BLANEY PARK RANK HIGH UPON MY LIST AS TIMES WE SHARED WITH YOU AS SONS, TIMES I SADLY MISS.
I CAN HEAR YOUR HEARTFELT LAUGHTER AS IT ECHOES THROUGH MY MIND AND SEE THAT TWINKLE IN YOUR EYES WHEN YOU “SKUNKED” ME ONE MORE TIME. CARDS, OR POOL, OR PING-PONG, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPORT YOU GAVE YOUR BEST IN ALL YOU DID, AND RARELY CAME UP SHORT.
YOU WERE ALWAYS AT YOUR BEST WHEN YOU HAD YOUR SONS AROUND AND I’ D LIKE TO THINK OF EACH OF US AS DIAMONDS IN YOUR CROWN. I NEVER FULLY REALIZED HOW MUCH YOU MEANT TO ME AND HOPE I’VE GROWN INTO A SON IN WHICH YOUR TRULY PLEASED.
I GUESS I’M REALLY TRYING TO SAY I MISS YOU FATHER DEAR AND THAT I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT THE YEAR. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS MY HEART EXCEPT GOD AND GOD ALONE SO UNTIL THEN I’LL WAIT FOR YOU TILL “THE FATHER” CALLS ME HOME.
MIKE