IS IT DOVE SEASON ALREADY???? Surely not...

I must admit that I am not the greatest "hunting wife/mother" in the world but isn't this the cutest picture and the proudest display of accomplishment two 7 year old boys could exude? Pictured here are Floyd IV and Brent Butler, who is our cousin from Jackson, shown with their black labs, Gem and Bertie, in the dove field after the first hunt of the season early Labor Day morning. Each year I DREAD the arrival of hunting season. I know it sounds absurd but I am not really sure why. I think it's become habit in a way. Is it because I didn't really grow up with a Dad that lived, breathed and ate hunting? Is it because it means that each weekend my husband gets up in the wee hours of the Saturday and Sunday mornings and goes to pursue some helpless (usually migratory) animal? I guess I really can't answer the question why I don't really like it. I know when our kids were babies it was sheer terror to me that he would even think to leave me to go hunt when we've worked hard all week and wanted to sleep in. Later I have realized that hunting is his form of rest and relaxation. As Gamba told me years ago when Floyd and I started dating and we'd come home to Greenwood for holidays or some function and he'd get up in rain, sleet or snow to go. She would tell me to always remember that there are way worse things he could be interested in doing like gambling, staying out late drinking or chasing women than hunt. She's right and I guess now what can I say??? The torch passes on to the next generation. Some women relish in the thought of upcoming hunting seasons that their husbands are GONE for the next however many weekends. I guess I am one that likes my husband around. Yes, maybe for selfish reasons of wanting something done around the house or for my longing desire of all of his free time to be spent with me doing whatever I want to do like watching a movie or whatever makes me happy. (ha, wishful thinking) But still, I think my feelings are relatively normal. I must give Floyd credit where credit is due... He has NEVER turned any fun social activity that I wanted to do or that we wanted to do as a couple down just to be home so he could wake up early fully rested. It's usually the total opposite. We could be at the biggest, most awesome party and he would stay till the bitter end and get up in time to go hunt or better yet, go strait when he came home to change clothes. Anyway, I think hunting does run in my family as I also seem to recall Gamba telling me that her father would be gone weeks or even months at a time down the Mississippi River somewhere or even up to Canada to pursue wild game. I don't even think he came home in late December to present his daughter Carol when she made her debut in the Debutante Ball. I do think Floyd would draw the line there. I think I will use this blog to document a promise to myself to be a better hunting wife and mother. Now that my kids are older I am sure Anne Craig and I will become quite independent and maybe even venture into our own escapes....who knows. With all of that being said... Let the season begin....