Deer season has come to an end here in south Texas. There are a few more weeks of quail season, but I think I am ready to go ahead and get fishing started and give the ranch a break. I usually do a few charters in February and March, but not nearly as many as I do in April and the Summer.
These months always give me a chance to really spend some time with Nolan. My son is seven now and is making his way to eight in July. It seems like it was just yesterday I was driving him home from the hospital in that black truck. He was a brand new little boy in that baby seat about to start his new life. Now, that the years have passed, and things have changed, I realize how important it is to take advantage of every second I have with my son.
I can remember that black truck that I drove Nolan home from the hospital in. It used to be shiny with no scratches or dents. The interior was lush and it had a fancy radio and some other electronic gadgets on the dash. Now the truck sits at the ranch in a barn, and I use it take the hunters out to the deer blinds. There are pieces missing. A couple of the tires are different brands and the scratches and dents clutter the external areas of the truck. I look back and try to remember some of the dents and scratches, but I can’t remember all of them. I know that truck has seen many happy hunters and many great hunting adventures. That truck was new when Nolan was new. It hasn’t really been that long, but a lot has changed. I hope I didn’t miss anything with my son as I did with that truck. I hope there are not any dents or scratches in his life that I missed and was not there to patch up. I know there will be some scratches in his young life with many years to come. I know that I will be there to help him through all that I can.
The reason I am writing this is because just the other day he and I were walking out on the ranch on a Sunday. I had to leave the ranch at two PM to get him back to his mom at our usual meeting place in Corpus. I was trying to squeeze in so many activities at once so we could get some quality time in. At one point we were walking in the brush and I was moving pretty fast. I heard, “Dad! Wait!” Nolan said to me as I turned to see what was the matter. He was having trouble sliding through a couple of thorny bushes that was easy for me to get through. After that I slowed down the pace I started teaching him the names of the different bushes. “This one is a mesquite. This one is a tasajillo cactus.” I noticed how interested he was in learning just the names of the different species of brush. Just by slowing down a little and just talking about anything was very special to my son. I noticed that all of the shooting guns at targets and fishing trips and hunting are great fun, but all my son really wants is to just be with me. Even if we are just talking about different names of bushes.
Nolan did get a bobcat on Saturday. The funny thing is, is when I asked him during the drive to the ranch if he wanted to do any hunting, he said, “I want a bobcat”.
The quail hunters and I were driving around on Saturday afternoon and we saw a bobcat cross the sendero at about three hundred yards away. I drove the truck up to about a hundred yards away from where the bobcat crossed. Nolan and got out and got on the ground in front of the truck with my rifle. I put the bipods down and started doing a little mouse/rabbit call with my mouth on my hand and to our disbelief the big cat came back out. Nolan had trouble finding it in the scope, but once he did his shot was true. It was a very exciting moment, and what a great little hunt. He got his bobcat.
Hunting season is done and now it is time for fishing. I have learned a lot this season. I have had some unforgettable hunting memories with my son, some long drives and he and I have both matured a little more. I know time flies as the old saying goes, but if I take time to slow down and just talk, sometimes I can slow time down. Before I know it, that old black truck may not run anymore. Before I know it, my son may be too busy for me, but I know he will always remember our discussions out on the ranch, on the boat and on our long drives. We have a special bond. I am so proud of my son and our time together. Every second counts.