Traditions

                                                             The last two year's my son Carson has joined me during the Thanksgiving holiday week to bird hunt. As we talked during his visit the subject of traditions came up. The issue we discussed is that sometimes the family traditions stop working. The purpose is supposed to be to spend time together showing your respect and mutual support for each other having been bonded together through growing up in the same extended family.

Carson with Molly and Beau. Thanksgiving 2011. This was a great way
for us to spend the holiday. As we hunted together we each got a
glimpse into each others world for a while as we walked behind the Setter's.

                                                             I happen to be a believer in making your own rules when it comes to traditions of any type especially having been single most of my life. This allowed me to be free for the most part of being a part of many of these " Gotta Do" get together's. So you can imagine what my advice was on this subject! Now I have been a guest of families over the year's that truly do gather to show respect and support for each other and would classify these families as "Close". On the flip side I've been a part of families that fail the test on the true reason for observing these traditional get together's. Word's to describe these groups would be dysfunctional or simply not "close". That's fine. We're all different. No problem except you have to make a decision about how you use your time around these holidays. After all it's your time and your decision always.
                                                           So no excuses then about these holidays. After all why should you year after year spend time around people you may not respect,have nothing in common with, who drink to much or just can't stop talking about themselves. It just doesn't make good sense. It's sort of like watching some mindless dribble on TV because that's all that's on! It's just not logical!

Fishing Love Creek on Easter morning was a tradition I
really enjoyed. Seeing the woods coming alive and maybe
catching a few trout as well was inspiring.

                                                           A couple of the traditions I established for myself over the year's were to fish Love Creek from beginning to end,a several mile trek,on Easter morning. This was an exhilarating experience being out in the woods on the dawn of spring time. A real celebration of life! And that's what it meant to me. Another was to start the Sharptail season "West of the Windmill" 8 year's in a row to celebrate the start to another season in this beautiful place the Setter's and I had so many great times together.

Taking a break on a run "West of the Windmill"

                                                           I remember one of the families I was a frequent guest of over the year's had a birthday tradition of roasting the birthday person while they had to eat the first piece of cake in total silence. Each family member would take turns making jibes and barbs trying to make the birthday person laugh! You see as the tradition goes you only get your wish if you remain silent! It was great fun to watch. This bunch were real practical joker's as well. What I would call a "close" family.
                                                           For many year's if my son's weren't with me on Christmas day I'd go skiing by myself. On one of these outings it was a bright sunny day and the snow was great as I recall. I loved this tradition. It was a great way to spend the holiday for me. I was riding up the chairlift with a young boy about 10 year's old just talking about the snow and as we exited the chair we both said have a good time. Then as I was skiing away I heard him yell "Hey Mister!" I turned around and he looked at me and said " Merry Christmas!" I'll never forget that. It was a true positive sentiment from a kid to young to misunderstand it as anything else. Real and meaningful.
                                                            Another tradition I was invited to take part in over the year's was the Dukelow fishing trip to Canada. This was a group of longtime friends that gathered every year for over twenty year's to share each other's friendship while fishing in Canada. It was an event where the father's then invited their son's to attend as well. My son Carson and I were invited to come along and it was a fun experience with all the ritual and activities of any nationally observed holiday. By that I mean the card playing,fishing contest's,wall of fame ceremony,shore luncheons,golf driving contest, and of course the happy hour which was pretty much every hour! Good friends. Good people. Good times! This was a "close" family of friends.

"The Dukelow and Friends" tradition. A great example of how
to create meaningful ways to celebrate friendships. And as
the saying goes what happened in Canada stayed in Canada!

                                                            Another tradition I engaged in a few year's was to travel to Goodman after my folks had retired to wish my Dad a happy birthday. I'd show up unannounced. No gift. No card. Just a surprise. My Dad really liked this because it was the time I took that meant something to him. After all it's the most valuable thing we all have to give each other.

The "Shack" at Ten Acres. A sight my Dad would view every
day as he drank his morning coffee. When I'd arrive unannounced
on his birthday he really enjoyed it. It was the time that was most
important to him. It meant something.

Carson and Molly Thanksgiving 2010. We braved the single digit
temperature to spend this time together we both won't forget to soon.
It was about much more than just the hunting. My example to share
was about the possibilities life holds for you if you so chose them.
It's not always about money. Happiness I mean.

                                                            So it's different for everybody. How you view traditions I mean. For me an experience shared is meaningful. Being able to connect with people is the objective. Walking away with some understanding about your relationship to each other. Understanding and appreciating it's value and most importantly how to contribute to it and make it grow as year's pass.