THE BREAK

 A few years back the DEC gave us hunters a late season Xmas present here in NY. Muzzleloader season would break on Dec. 17^th and pick back up on Dec. 26^th. This is perfect timing to give us diehards the chance to catch our breaths, do a little Xmas shopping, clean up the house, wash cloths, and basically recharge our batteries for one last shot at horns and/or meat. Then it looks bleak until the May 1^st turkey opener. I’ve stopped watching the news. Is Trump still alive?

 

The last day of the season brought up UB and Bird for deer drives. Savage was in the hospital having something that begins with an “h” taken care of. Hemorrhoids? Humors? Hysterectomy? Hunchhobble? Whatever it was, that’s what he was doing instead of having fun with us on the mountain. It must suck being as old as Savage.

 

We drove behind the house, the cemetery and Butch’s back ridge. We all saw deer. Bird got a shot at a doe…and missed. Bobby saw a “decent” buck and I only had shots at a spike and a couple of little does, that I didn't take. Still, the weather was warm and clear, the afternoon was a blast, and the company was excellent. I wouldn’t really call it male bonding. The bonds were made a lifetime ago. I guess the nice thing is to see how strongly they’ve held over the years. You have to trust the people you hunt with. We ended the afternoon talking about Social Security. Turns out the right time to retire is as early as you can – 62. You didn’t have to tell me twice to retire. I know, it sounds boring as fuck. It wasn’t. I can talk any BS with people I like.

 

So, this morning Cheeky and I slept in. Then I went to Walmart to return my crappy raingear, got gas, deposited $150 in the bank that I got for an interview, got gas, went to Shoprite, and was home before ten. My other brother Rose was coming over at noon to spread a little green Xmas cheer, and take us all out to lunch. He brought along Bird and Savage- now recovered from his HERNIA operation enough to climb up into Rose’s massive new one ton pickup. You need a stepladder to get in this thing.

 

As much as I wanted to be back in the tree stand, this little break from the action, letting the deer settle down, taking care of business, doing a bit of socializing is a good thing for all concerned. We went to Dutch’s, had a nice lunch, a few beers, and hung out the rest of the afternoon in my kitchen. I love these guys. Savage might as well be blood. I trust all three with my life. We laughed and told stories going back decades. I was amazed that I hadn’t heard a few. Rose and wife SueBO hit a bear with his motorcycle this past summer. WTF? I didn’t know that. All came out fine, even the bear. The old white haired gentlemen just left. Now I can get down to writing the blog and testing product. 

 

I just tried Wedding Crasher. Nice. Smokes good. A solid back wall, with just a hint of pornography… I’m high as shit. Or maybe it’s the Hennessy. Either way. Thanks for lunch, and all the other goodies Rose. I still don’t know why you need two big, fancy, new, pickup trucks while your big brother drives a 24-year-old clunker. Just doesn’t seem fair. I know I don’t say it enough. And don’t tell the others, but you’ve always been my favorite.