That's what he said driving home from a very special meeting with our buddy.
Lets back up a bit first....
Big Ed had always been a big buddy to Cade, they hit it off the first time they met at Shawn's bunny hunt 2009...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250109cadenew.jpg)
You can see how happy he was for Bid Ed when he killed a rabbit...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250110cadenew.jpg)
After that hunt Cade couldn't stop talking about his new buddy. Big Ed had left an even bigger impression on my boy!
Then in 2010 at Shawn's bunny hunt Big Ed surprised Cade with a brand new little lefty longbow that he'd made himself for my little man! Cade couldn't wait for the next morning to shoot it!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250111cadenew.JPG)
There's never been a boy prouder of a bow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250112cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250113cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250114cadenew.JPG)
Then later on in 2010 Big Ed had his unfortunate accident at work crushing his right hand. Not being able to shoot didn't stop him from coming up the the bunny hunt again to see his little buddy and the rest of the gang...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250115cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250116cadenew.JPG)
That brings us to Yesterday...
:campfire:
Thank you . That a cool dude
Never could figure how Ed got that nickname... :saywhat:
Glad Cade has found such a great friend!!!
:campfire:
Ed gave my daughter a stuffed Bassett hound when she was 3 years old. She's now 14 and to this day still sleeps with the darn thing and takes it on every vacation. Yep Ed, Amy still has Old Red! Ed's just got a way with kids, always has.
This one had been in the works for while. Ed had gotten a hold of me asking if he could have another bow made for his little buddy since he couldn't do it himself this time because of his hand.
He would enlist the help of his good friend Leon Stewart.
Cade didn't have a clue where we were going yesterday and asked 100 times to tell him where we were going.
I headed south, Ed headed north and we met about half way in north PA.
Cade was going nuts trying to figure out what the heck was going on when a red Toyota pick-up pulled up besides us in the gas station we stopped at...
"Hey, That's Big Ed!"...
With that, we got out to greet our buddy and his beautiful little girl Leah. Cade was so happy to see Ed, but the best was yet to come as Big Ed reached into his truck and handed this to Cade...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250117cadenew.JPG)
A beautiful little 48" Leon Stewart Longbow! Cade was blown away!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250118cadenew.JPG)
Myrtle Veneers...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250119cadenew.JPG)
Ed and Leah during our lunch after he gave Cade the bow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250120cadenew.JPG)
After this amazing gift, of course he had to shoot it when we got home...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250121cadenew.JPG)
It's a big jump in poundage for him, but nothing he won't be able to work into with time. Check out those Myrtle veneers...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250123cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250124cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250125cadenew.JPG)
Nice Curt! Ed asked if I could make the drive with him, but my son had a game. It would have been good to see you guys. We really need to make the time this summer.
That should penetrate those big ol' carp scales! :thumbsup:
Good on ya Big Ed :clapper:
Great story about great friends. Kudos to all of you.
Shick
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250126cadenew.JPG)
Feast your eyes...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250129cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250130cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250131cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250132cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250133cadenew.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250134cadenew.JPG)
Here he's showing both of his "Big Ed Bows"...one happy little bowhunter!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250135cadenew.JPG)
Thanks again buddy!
Way to go, everybody!
I love my Leon Stewart bows, and I know Cade will have some terrific adventures with his. They are quiet, well-mannered, and powerful bows. Leon's craftsmanship is top notch.
Big Ed did not get his nickname from his size, I can see. It came from the scope of his heart and spirit. What a friend for your family to have! Thanks for sharing this story, puts a smile on my face after a tough day.
Congrats, Cade, and I will congratulate Leon on making your bow so nice to look at, when I see him in Baltimore this May. I usually head to his booth first!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
It doesn't get any cooler than that. Big Ed...Bigger Heart!! Good Luck with the bow Cade!
Wow!!! Cade is one lucky little bowhunter to have a dad like you Curt.
INCR ED IBLE
ED is the man.
Cade looks good with that bow in hand. thats enough weight for his first Deer. I think thats what you guys already had in mind.
If Cade shoots it as well as his other ED bow, Deer and any other critter watch out. Muzzy blocks and stumps too. :readit:
Wow, very neat definitely. Good job from a Trad ganger I would someday like to meet. I hope you realize how lucky you are Cade. Shoot it with pride buddy.
Guru, that reminds me of my happy days with my dad. He is gone now in body only but his memory and the good times we had will always be in my heart. I'm sure that is what you hope for with Cade and his children.
Well done Big Ed !!! :clapper: This is what makes TradGang so special !!!
Bill
tip o' the hat to you, Ed!
Congrats, young Cade!
Good things happen to good people who know good people!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Cade is right! Big Ed IS awesome!!
That is awesome! What a generous spirit sir! Thanks for sharing Curt.
Cade, that is one very cool bow!
That is Awesome!! Way to go Big Ed! And a huge congrats to Cade :thumbsup:
thats awesome to Big Ed and Cade...congrats..really shows how wonderful people are out there
What a generous gift! Leon makes a top notch bow and I am sure Cade will get tons of enjoyment from it. Big Ed, you are the man.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: congrats to Cade and Big ED
AWESOME!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That is soooooo cool Curt! Congrats to Cade on his new stick. I hope I get to make it up your way someday so I cn meet Cade. Or maybe in a few years you will bring him down south, Texas way, for a hunt and I could meet him there?
Cool deal all the way around!
Bisch
You are the man Ed!
Big Ed has a Great Big Heart! :thumbsup:
... mike ...
Nice! Reading this warms the heart and just makes you want to go do some good.
:clapper:
The title says it all, way to go Big Ed!!!! Congrats Cade on the new bow and way to go dad, looks like you are raising a great kid there. This is something that will stick with him for a lifetime and he will always remember!!!!
:clapper:
Freinds and Family thats what its all about!!!! :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:campfire: :archer2: Good stuff. That bow looks like it is for real hunting weight. Expect to see that bow in some more pics in the future. Good on you Ed.
Thats the true spirit of trad archers, Great on you Big Ed. And congrats to Cade shoot it well Dude. :archer2:
Outstanding!!!!!! Cade will put that to good use in the future, and we will surely see more of that bow in coming threads.
Ed- :notworthy: :notworthy: :clapper:
David
:thumbsup: :campfire:
:thumbsup:
That's an awesome story about a man who has his heart in the right place! What a great gift!
Cade will have fond memories of the bows from "Big Ed" :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NS Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Yep they don't come any better than Big Hearted Big Ed. Well done my friend. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:notworthy:
Tim has told me nothing but great things about Big Ed. I hope to meet him someday. :notworthy: :campfire:
Cool story... Great times, great friends, happy boy and a fine lookin bow! Sounds like a little bit of Heaven!
Jason
Handsome boy you have sir!
George
Way to go Big Ed!!
I got to meet Ed at Shawn's Bunny hunt. A true gentleman.
Ed
Your Class act...proud to call you my Friend.
Hang'em Low
George
Brotherhood isn't something you buy, but a way of life.
That is plain outstanding, what an awesome family we have here. Proud to call myself a traditional bowhunter
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: That is great!!!
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
That's cool! I bet something large will get tipped over by that little bow some day real soon. :thumbsup:
That's it, I'm writing in Big Heart or I mean Big Ed for President.
GOOD story congrats to Cade and Big ED NOW im itching to get my "Slammer" out havnt shot my Stewart in a bit BEAUTIFUL BOW but then again that's all Leon Does is beautiful bows !!!!
Great story...Thanks for sharing it with us!
Just an awesome story! Congrats all the way around! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Very cool! That bow is a beaut too! I bet Cade is sleeping with it close by. Man, 43lbs, he's growing up!
Good deal. Great Kid and a couple Great Adults as well. Good stuff. RC
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy: :campfire:
That just too cool.
Awesome!! :thumbsup:
:archer2: :D
Good deal!