Top_Heavy's World

The gust was sharp, cold, and burnt as I breathed shallow to prevent caughing. The tears in the corners of my eyes turned to crystals and clung to my eyelashes, the last rays of sunshine actually refracting quite beautifully. My ice crusted boots somehow held me as I stood on the seat of a 17' ladder stand. I clutched the tree trunk, using its bulk in an attempt to escape from the bitter artic chill. Not exactly sure why I chose this stand, I stood motionless, my gaze statuesc and unyeilding. My hands bare to the weather, my mood melowing as I shivered to stay warm. My day was less enjoyable than I would have liked and the prospect of releasing one of our best workers haunted me. I stood as the peace and joy that is hunting washed over me. Since the middle of September I have been able to flee the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the escape so often used. As I stood, cold and alone, the reality that it was almost over started to sink in. Things will change on Saturday night, tags will transform from tickets to dream, into worthless stickers my children will affix to eachother. Bucks, huge antlered monarchs of the Iowa landscape, will be free once more to focus on groceries and the constant bumpers of cars. I will no longer be in the picture, those that made it will be wiser and perhaps bigger. I am not ready to remember or look back, we have almost a year for that, I will just sit hear in the realization that season is winding down...