Mr. P!

Paul and his bass!

I have been writing this post in my head for a couple weeks now and nothing has felt right so far.  I thought that if I actually started putting the words down I might be able to get what I want.

The following is a true story, one that I don't think I will ever forget.  As you all know, autumn/fall season is synonymous with hunting season.  During the tail-end of September we were out hunting with our muzzle loaders.  We decided to walk off onto one of our favorite areas.  We broke up into some groups and spread out through the area in search of a big buck.  Well, the route I started was not the best place to start, but I had done it before and figured I could do it again.  I ended up getting to one area where I needed to push my way through some oak and look for the least steep trip down the face of a mountain.  I had radioed Paul and Chase and told them not to come down the same way I had.  There was bound to be some place better.  (They had already found a better way.)  Anyway, as I was nearing the bottom, I had forgotten there was a dry creek bed.  I had to navigate my way across and as I was doing so, I ended up hitting a spot that nearly sent me tumbling, right into a downed tree.  I managed to stay on my feet, but hit a hole that jammed my knee as I rolled my ankle.  (Yeah, graceful right?)  Fortunately for me, I knew at the bottom of the mountain and across the dry creek bed, there was a decent trail that leads you out and back to the main road. 

I found my way to the trail and figured, I can do this.  I walked for maybe half a mile on the trail until Paul and Chase met up with me.  I told them to go on ahead that I would not be too far behind them.  I think Paul could tell that I was favoring the one side as I walked, but he didn't want to pry to much.  I kept trudging along the trail.  Every so often Paul would call me on the radio, just to make certain I was doing okay.  Still feeling confident I told him I was okay. 

Paul and Tracy (Love Them!)

Having done this trail a few times, I was very confident in where I was going and knew that I would be okay.  This trail is hidden under a maze of mountains and trees, which means that it was getting darker quicker than I had anticipated.  Every so often I could see where Paul and Chase had stopped to wait for me, or at least listen for me to make certain I was doing okay.  Then as I turned on one of the bends, much to my surprise was Paul waiting for me.  He asked me how I was doing, I replied with "fine," but since he has been around me, my whole life, he could sense I wasn't doing great.  He told me that I should probably grab one of the bars I keep in my back-pack and get a little nourishment.  He was a little bit more than disgusted with me, when I told him I hadn't loaded any in.  He offered me something out of his pack, but I refused.  (I think he had only nasty peanut butter stuff.)  Anyway, he made certain I was at least drinking water.  He knows that when I get tired, I tend not to drink like I should.


Paul and Chase, in Wyoming

    I told him that I was drinking my water and that I was going to be fine.  No matter how much I assured him, that I was going to be fine, he stayed with me.  As the daylight quickly disappeared, he asked me if I had my light in my back-pack.  I told him I did.  He reached into my back and pulled out the head-lamp, I kept in there for just such an event.  I turned the light on and wrapped it around my head.  It was soon apparent, that my head-lamp was not going to cut it in the darkness that laid ahead of us.  Paul already had his flashlight in hand and started to lead the way.  Before we knew it, we were in complete darkness, I had taken my head lamp off and wrapped it around my right hand, hoping that having it a couple feet closer to the ground it would help us to the road.  Paul handed me a walking stick and told me I would probably need it for the rest of the hike out. 
The remainder of the trip took much longer than I am certain Paul would have liked, but he was so patient with me.  For me, here is the really heroic part of the story.  It was dark and we knew where we were going, but the trail was not always flat, nor was it dry.  So, Paul would take about 5 - 7 steps with the flashlight, he would then turn around illuminating the trailing making certain I would make it those 5-7 steps.  He pointed out for me the spots I needed to avoid, the rocks, the holes, the tree roots, the slick spots, the cow pies, etc.  A few spots were a little dangerous as the trail narrowed and I can tell you, I was so grateful for Paul taking his time and helping me through finish the trail.  When we made it to the road, there was Mike waiting for us with his truck.  I told Paul thanks for the help, but I don't know if he really knew how much it meant to me that he stayed behind and helped me out.  I had even told him once to just let me be, the coyotes and cats needed something to eat!  But he never gave up on me!
How blessed I am to have such an amazing older brother!  He has always been one of my best friends, even when we were younger and didn't get along.  He was still there fore me.  He taught me how to ride a horse, he taught me to hunt and fish, heck most of the things I do, I do better because of him.  Thank you Paul!  I appreciate you always being there to help me.