Well it seems that the generosity of "some" people is destined to just keep on making me feel foolish! Last week I got an e-mail from the usps that was looking to confirm my address. Had to be a mistake, i knew I had nothing on the way. The mystery deepened when I saw that the shipper was none other than Big Jim's Bows!! Well in the course of head scratching and thinking he must have gotten a virus in his address book, I got a text from a a fella by the name of Drewsbow that he had taken a doe. I get on the horn and proceed to pump him for all the details of the hunt. After all that, I off-handedly mention that I got an address confirmation from Big Jim and that I can't figure it out. At this point he casually lets on that he and the fellas from the Adirondack Attack had kicked in for a t-shirt for me in appreciation for cooking on the hunt.
Now at this point it bears explaining that cooking for this group of guys is probably one of my greatest joys and that I wouldn't miss it for the world. I actually am grateful that they've let me back into camp each year. I go up to this hunt every year with the expectation of re-uniting with lifelong friends from years past and end up coming away with an even bigger family... time and time again!
Now the idea that any one of these guys felt compelled to chip in and get me a t-shirt as a way of saying thanks for doing something that I feel honored to do, was was a little bit overwhelming and I let Drew know it. Cool as a cucumber he let my feelings of un-worthiness pass right on by him and ended with a "we all just wanted to say thanks" So, with hat in hand I accepted the idea and said thanks.
Days passed and I waited anxiously for my shirt. Onthe prescribed day that the internet tracker told me my prize would arrive, I rushed home to find this odd t=shirt package in my kitchen?!?!?
(http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/oo260/nathan835/DSCN0605.jpg)
Gotta be the oddest t-shirt box yet!! This is where my recollection gets a little jumpy and distorted! It started to dawn in the farthest recesses of my mind, that based on past experiences with these fellers, and not the least of which Drew and Ken (who are literally world famous a few times over for their generosity), that there might be some sorta surprise in store for me!!!
(http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/oo260/nathan835/DSCN0607.jpg)
I don't know how ones supposed to behave in an event like this, but I can tell you I looked like 40grit sandpaper from all the goosebumps and I swore like a sailor that broke his last bottle!! Words(even bad swears) cannot describe how I felt!!! And for that matter still feel as I type this!
I, like most everyone else on here, am WAY more comfortable giving than receiving and this is certainly no different. I had a hard time putting words together when I spoke to Drew and Ken. True gentlemen to the core, they both said how many great friends had made it possible and that somehow (though I can't fathom how). that I deserved it. Well If that don't choke a man all up and make him (even me), at a loss for recognizeable words, I don't know what else will!
So while I'm still waiting on the complete list of all the fine friends that i have to call and thank, I wanted to share a few pics...of that great T-shirt!! :biglaugh:
(http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/oo260/nathan835/DSCN0590.jpg)
(http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/oo260/nathan835/DSCN0589.jpg)
(http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/oo260/nathan835/DSCN0593.jpg)
In highschool a good bud of mine told me a saying that someone in his family had taught him. I'm sure im butchering the poetry of it, but the meaning never left me... "Show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are"
I can only hope so...
Since I cant find any stronger words, I'll just stick to "Thanks for everything guys"
Nathan
Nice real nice.
Good friends are a true treasure! Enjoy your "gift"! :)
Beautiful! Give and it will be given unto you. Lk.6:38. :clapper:
How cool is this?... Way!!!!..I'm saying...
:archer:
Awesome story - thanks for sharing!
Now that is awesome !!
An absolutely beautiful bow. I'm sure you deserve it! Enjoy it to the max. I know you will be reminded of good times every time you use it.
I can only hope that I can be as good a friend to someone as yours are to you. You are blessed! And while that TC is a treasure, to be sure, those friends are a bigger treasure than the bow is. Enjoy that bow... I doubt that it will ever have a 2nd owner!
Archie
Well, you must be quite a cook!
A Big Jim TC and t-shirt---Awesome
Friends like yours---------Priceless
Congrats to all involved in this touching act of generosity. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Good for you! you must take real good care of your friends... And they take real good care of there friend!
Cheers
Anjoy!
I think I'd bake them fellers a cake. :archer2:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Those are some great friends you have there!!! Congrats
Thats just awesome :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Wow.Thats awesome and the T-shirt aint half bad either.Those are sweet shooting short bows for sure.
Great bunch of guys you hang with for sure!
Great stuff, cool shirt and super friends.
Thats cool stuff, Pretty bow. :thumbsup:
Great friends and a well deserved bow. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome story. Had me smiling all over for you.
That story choked me up a little to read it. Awesome friends you hunt with and cook for Toecutter. Congrats and good luck with all the phone calls.
Nice T-shirt!
This place just keeps getting better. The story of that hunt read like a real good time. Excellent post script.
By the way, I like to cook too...
Well deserved! Great friends! :bigsmyl:
F-Manny
I can't tell you how many times something like that has happened to me through my friendships in trad hunting- and especially here
As Someone said earlier- I just hope I'm as good a friend to others as they have been to me
Great friends and loving families are TRUE treasures in this life- you're RICH!!!
ya should of heard ole Nate slobber on the phone!!!! you are much deserving bro for putting up with the wolves that you do when ya cook, clean and do about everything in the kitchen!!! you will make some feller a fine wife..... errr i mean some wife a fine feller...... yeah thats it (i think)!!! i am embarrassed to tell ya what fine gifts, friendships and help has been bestowed on me from members of this site. Drewsbow and Mr. Vic taught me a TON about giving, sharing and helping others so this is just a way on my part and everyone else to just "pay it forward". glad your happy and love ya bro!
That is awesome. I was bummed to miss the end of the attack but while I was there it was a grand time despite the atrocious weather. That dang fancy french toast wasnt bad either. Ken, if he does get him a wife like you mentioned, shes gonna get thick real quick if he does all of the cooking. Not that its a bad thing, Im just saying. Unless thats how she comes to him thanks to that blue juice. :biglaugh:
Awesome stuff. Now that is what Trad Gang is all about.
Nathan, Your a lucky man to have such great friends. That is one awesome t-shirt, bow looks good also. My t-shirt was shipped yesterday. Should be here soon, I hope in time too hunt her a little.
Kudos to you and your friends. Nothing can be better than receiving something unexpected, when you give of yourself just for the sake of giving. Thanks for sharing.
SaWeeeet!!!
:campfire:
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
"To have a friend, you have to be one", my grandmother told me that many years ago.
You must be a fine friend, as are your friends. Congratulations.
For a bow like that, I would grill a prime rib any day. When it comes to bows, it is a lot more fun to give than to receive, your friends know this. However, receiving is right up there. Nice bow, you must be a really good cook.
You must be some cook!
Very nice. Warms the heart. :clapper:
Yeah buddy! This man can COOK! It was a pleasure sharing camp with you. :bigsmyl: :campfire: :clapper: :goldtooth:
Looking forward to doing it again.
That is awesome. I was bummed to miss the end of the attack but while I was there it was a grand time despite the atrocious weather. That dang fancy french toast wasnt bad either. Ken, if he does get him a wife like you mentioned, shes gonna get thick real quick if he does all of the cooking. Not that its a bad thing, Im just saying. Unless thats how she comes to him thanks to that blue juice. :biglaugh:
Glad you like it, Brother!!!!! (I wasn't sure if you would...) ;)
It was an awesome idea, and I was pleased to be part of it!!!!! :bigsmyl:
WOW! :saywhat:
Well brother you sure do deserve this one . It was awesome to pull the wool a little on ya then step back and watch . Thanks again to all the guys that are making this happen. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to call friends. :wavey: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congratulations My Friend!! :thumbsup: :biglaugh: God Bless You!!!
Great story of great friends! Trad Gangs is such a reminder of the important things of life.
hey bro will give ya a list of people who were in on this when ya come back from your hunting trip, GOOD LUCK bro!!!!! of course if a MISS with that bow i'm sure the fellers will have a few things to say.....
Now this is a really cool story!!!
Glad you like the T-shirt Bro'! Like the rest of the guys said.....you deserve it! Thanks for everything you did at the ADK Attack! I still have some extra pounds to shed!!!!
:thumbsup: :campfire:
wow you must be a really good cook!!! very nice bow
i do believe Nate is away on a hunting trip right now and he took the bow to bloody it!
Excellent. What you put in is what you get back out!
:clapper:
Nate, That is just my weight range :readit:
Hope your trip is going well.