Loss, Remembrance & Perspective

[Cherokee Scout]

This is a difficult post to think about. But responding may help someone better appreciate their friends. Every time a friend dies a piece of you dies along with the buddy.
My Dad took me hunting for the first time when I was 11, he died when I was 13, I only got to hunt with him for 2 years.
My Police partner and bow hunting buddy died water skiiing when he was 26. The friend who replaced him on our Canada trips died while drunk in a car wreck at age 21.
A young man I met and became friends with thru my archery business was killed in a motorcycle accident a few years ago, he was about 20.
Another one of the Canada trip buddies died of cancer at age 55.
My brother in law and lifelong fishing and hunting buddy died a couple of years ago from complications from diabetes.
I guess the point is, we can go anytime. Appreciate every day, appreciate your friends, you will miss them if they go.

[Kevin Dill]

I must say that most of these stories and pictures really affect me. We go through our day-to-day lives and seldom say much, or let people know what we've lost. Sometimes the simplest statements say the most about our thoughts.

Keep the fire burning...

[highplains55]

my dad died at 85 in july of this year,he gave me
my first longbow when i was 6 in 1960,i shot that bow every day at pretty much anything for years, he taught me to hunt pheasants when i was
7, both are still passions i carry with me today.

[GRINCH]

I lost my Father several years ago,he made my first bow out of an osage branch with a twine string,he wasn't a bow hunter but he taught me to respect nature and cherish all game we took.Iknow he's smiling down on me know and I want him to know I truly miss him.

[Gray Buffalo]

A good friend Richard Otto pasted last month at 46 years of age. I knew this young man from the time he was 9 years old until his death. His father, my best hunting partner. We spent many days in the wood  with  Richard tagging along. I will miss Richard and his sense of hummer. May God take care of my friend.

[Keefer]

Sometimes I don't know what to say to someone else who has lost a loved one but I know a bible verse that I read that says to "Be still and know that I am God"...Sometimes we need to just remember we are here for Gods eternal plan not ours...I just know I excepted Jesus as my Savior and that by excepting Him I will one day see those that have gone before me....I know when I held my Mothers hand as she drew her last breath of air here on earth I told her to go Home if she saw Jesus and if He was calling her...My Mother let out a tear that ran down her face as I watched her go Home and I told her I'll see her later....My Mom gave me my first Bow and arrows and knew Archery was in my blood...Thanks Mom for those memories...I feel everyones pain but I know without a shadow of a doubt where I made my "retirement" plans....It ain't Florida or the Corribean but much nicer....God Bless,Keefer's <")))><

[Trad Lad]

Kev,
This post is probably old enough that this won't get read but I just found it today. As my friends and family know I lost my wife of 36 years in February of 2010. She was always so patient and understanding when the leaves started to turn in the fall. When I got my first traditional bow in 2000 I named it "Gypsy" after her for her understanding of my out door heart.
The pain of the loss is however, made more palatable by the comfort of friends like the author of this thread. Without out my friends I would have nothing to look forward to, but with the strong friendship base  I have, especially my "traditional family" I have plenty to look forward to, Here is to a wonderful New Year with great Old Friends.
God Bless my friends,
Pip

[ti-guy]

Very emotional,I'm touched.Thank you all for sharing such a personal matter and it is ,at the same time,an excellent thing to do.God bless.
Guy