what a day or, life is good

[dosgris]

i took today off of work because of an unfortunate incident which occured over the summer with my youngest daughter, and she had to face the music as i stood beside her at 10 am, got 32 hours community service, (driving without a license, showing off for "friends"), but having taken the day off, i wanted to make the most of it,,,, so i went rabbit hunting this morning at 6 am with my oldest daughter, christy, who is 17 and never went in for hunting and fishing and all that stuff,,,, well, the dogs jump right in front of her and she gets all excited and couldn't believe how "cool" it was to watch her "babies" getting all reved up and opening and chasing the bunny,,, she seems to be hooked after just one time in the rabbit woods,,,, she loved hearing the dogs driving the rabbit and seeing their reactions to the rabbits when the came up on the kill,,, she did get a bit upset when i wounded a rabbit and had to dispatch it,, but that was just momentary.
after i came back from court, she wanted to go hunting again,,,, i suggested a boat ride,,, so we took a couple of poles along,,, she proceeded to catch about twenty speckled trout and wouldn't let me start the boat to leave as darkness approachedwe had about thirty five trout on board and a couple of redfish to boot, she was having the time of her life and said, "i can't believe i have been missing all of this fun, trying to be girlish, i want to fish and hunt with you from now on". sweeter words to a daddy's ear couldn't be heard, and now she is looking forward to the duck opener next weekend, and a rabbit hunt on saturday morning. oh, and btw, she wants to go fishing tomorrow or friday after school.
have i died and gone to heaven???

p.s., i am a single custodial parent, been raising these girls since they were two and four, christy has always been the girlie girl. now i have two hunting partners. life is good.

[DDWBeagles]

Dogris, I always enjoy your stories and this one is no exception. That is great. You sound like a man who has got his life together. Also, you have a "nack" for the written word and ought to consider doing an article for one of the magazines. Anyway, good luck and enjoy!

[Emery]

The good Lord works in mysterious ways doesn't he. Had your youngest not gotten into trouble, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe you can use this time to talk about things that you would never get the time to do before. Glad to hear you have another hunting partner.

Emery

[YGD-- BUNNYBUSTER]

DOGRIS- THAT IS A WONDERFUL STORY, BUT WHAT MADE YOU WAIT 17 YEARS. I TOOK MY BOYS ONE TIME & WOUNDED A RABBIT & THE DOGS CAUGHT IT & KILLED IT SO I WENT & GOT IT. BUT WHEN MY YOUNGEST TOLD THE STORY IT WENT LIKE THIS. WE WENT HUNTING & KILLED 5 RABBITS. MY BROTHER KILLED 2 & DAD KILLED 3. OH YEAH, DAD ALSO FOUND ONE & KEPT IT, LOL CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW HUNTING PARTNERS. NOW IT'S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.
BUNNYBUSTER

[Little Dog]

Lucky you dog! Keep at it and good luck. Stories like yours give me hope. I have 3 very young girls and sometimes when I see a father and son I wish I had a boy, but my oldest (almost 6) is also trying hard to do the stuff I do. I hope, as you do, that you'll have a hunting buddy for life.