Ongoing Recovery, One More Day
Today I am 29. Twenty-nine years without a drink or a drug. Since every day alive is a miracle and a gift, I count many thousands of miracles and gifts. They have not all been “good” days, but each has been tolerable. Even if I have “found it necessary to use,” I have not used. One day at a time, for 29 years. Continue reading
After the successful shot…The work begins!
Now I realize how far away I am and how fortunate to get not only a shot at this elk, but a clean kill. I reload my rifle (I am hunting alone, although several others are a few miles away and there are bear and mountain lions in the woods ), put the safety on and hike up to my reward. She is big…and really far from any trail or foreseeable route out of the forest. Oh well, might as well start field dressing anyway. I hang my orange coat on a high branch to signal where I am and soon Erik appears. He has heard me shoot and hiked over the ridge, locating my exact whereabouts by spotting my orange coat. When I get to the ridge, I have a weak cell, but enough to text Loren to join us too, preferably with the ATV. Continue reading
Hello Recovering People!
I have been traveling; so have not checked in for a while. Of all of the possible topics to discuss now, it seems that maintaining recovery while traveling could be useful. Spring break is coming up for those on a school schedule and others may be planning summer trips already.
In the past, my vacations were a product of my addiction, just like everything else. Continue reading
Third Day’s a Charm
Hunting has been especially rewarding this year, sort of a tipping point in both my hunting aptitude and attitude. I have enjoyed it more than ever and have been slightly less goal oriented. Each morning, beginning the first day of my eight-day elk and deer season, I leave the house happy to be able to go for “an armed hike.” If I see an animal, if I can get a good shot and an elk or deer, it would make my day. If I do not get a shot, or even see animals, I will not be discouraged and think they have all left my area; I will simply enjoy the woods! Continue reading
A Sunday afternoon off from elk hunting.
After two mornings of seeing elk, I am feeling good about the chances of successfully filling the freezer this week. Since I have a deer license also, and have been watching several large bucks all summer, I decide to go to a different area, just a few minutes by car from my home and see if they are still around. More wonderful neighbors have given me permission to hunt deer on their 160 acres, even when they are not home. Continue reading