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Times Like These
By coolgranny in The Paradox of Long Lives
October 7, 2008

I came to a serious conclusion this weekend. After watching the dove hunters and a lab in training while visiting with my 84 year old mother in law, I have decided to take every day as it comes and record the blessings that I unfortunately have taken for granted for many years now.

 My husband's family has always had a deer lease and always will. Personally, I would have invested in land 27 years ago, paid for it, and then put a few cattle on it and used the entire operation as a tax deduction...but that's me. This close knit band of brothers followed in their father's footsteps, and have maintained this tradition even after he died. Their mom is very appreciative, and these weekends give her a much needed break from being old.

My niece and husband were also down for the weekend, and they packed the house to bring their adorable 14 month old with them. Her name is Lilly and is now officially the star of my life until my own first granddaughter is born.

I have dreaded going to the various leases since the boys no longer needed a gun chaperon. We have always made these long trips, and the only good parts about any of them were the road kill bingo games and the captive audiences we had with the kids. Hub and I have always been the road warriors because we dared to move away from the south, south Texas area. It wasn't very long ago when time was of the utmost importance to me. I was this totally efficient person, and I could pretty well drive the calmest person nuts with my constant antics.

My husband recently asked me if I could ever just be. I didn't have a clue and asked for an explanation. He reminded me that I was constantly in motion, I never just existed, and was always in a hurry to get another goal finished. He reminded me that the reason I didn't like deer hunting was the long confinement in a blind, and bird hunting was my favorite because I could be out in the open and escape quickly if bored with the lack of birds. His theory is partially correct.

The real reason I have dreaded these last few years was the lack of anything new. If I have heard the hunt stories once, I have heard them a hundred times. My hub and I can pretty well finish each other's thoughts now, and I have on more than one occasion finished the story for him. He is always amazed that I actually listened to him.

However, the Lord has blessed me once again with something new. First off, the new place feels like a park.  It has been 18 years since we had a toddler at the lease. I'm not really good with babies, but since I was in charge of the MOJO, and Lilly was fascinated with this toy, she followed me around like a puppy. We had a Kodak moment when she kissed the MOJO, and I realized that this is what was missing for me. A new life that would take in all the "old stuff" with wonder and laughter.

 All you hunters out there know the work involved in a lease. My sister in law was even fetching the birds for her older husband in an effort to help the lab become a better fetcher. I saw my hubs looks and hand signals as the birds fell closer to me than him. I think I yelled something like "in your dreams" or "buy another dog." My sister in law is at least 15 years younger and has never given birth, so she can fetch all the birds she wants. If I want exercise, I will turn on the dvd or ride a bike.

I am really looking forward to the first toddler moments with my own grandchildren someday soon. Both daughter in laws were raised around firearms and are totally comfortable with the outdoors. They are definitely a few steps ahead of me, but I'll bet that I will get to share many new moments with my grandkids as I bond and the kids hunt. Life does come full circle.

As the babes and I discover together, I'll get to travel down memory lane. The old and new will connect completely for me. Maybe I will learn to enjoy just being.