Clearing the desk — and the memory
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- January 1, 2020
- 1203
When I started writing the articles for this “Someday” column a few years ago, Mr. Carey Conn of AloNovus gave me some wise advise. He told me there would be times when I would encounter writer’s block or in simpler terms, “You just can’t think of interesting things to write about.” He told me when I get an inspiration or I see something that would go good with my article, to jot it down on a piece of paper so it wouldn’t slip away.
At first I thought he was crazy. I have a better memory than that. But try it sometime. Try and put something in your memory bank and a day (or two) later try to remember what it was. With the hustle and bustle of life these days, I’m lucky to remember a story idea from this morning. The only exception is jokes. Those of you who know me know I usually have a good one to tell, even if it is for the 45th time that day.
Age and active lifestyle have a lot to do with it also. Anyway, these notes I write ideas down on keep piling up on my desk, so here are a few in short form.
First of all, I wish the best for you in the new year. I appreciate the comments on this column and to hear your stories in return. At least it lets me know someone is reading it.
I always like to try new things, as I testify in my articles, to step outside of my comfort zone and experience new horizons. A while ago a friend asked me if I’d like to pheasant hunt with him. Well, let’s see. It has the word hunt in it.
I’ve never hunted pheasants, but in my younger days I used to shoot bobwhite quail before the blizzard of ‘78 wiped them out. I still hear a few now and then, but not like they were. I remember rabbit hunting and flushing a covey of quail. Scared the tar out of ya, but if you were quick enough, you could knock down one or two. I even had a three-bagger once, and I had a 16-gauge pump shotgun.
So I met up with my friend and some buddies about a couple weeks ago at a private hunting preserve. What’s interesting is that each hunt is different: different quarry, different gun, different ammo, different tactics. I brought my daughter’s 20 gauge (light) with improved cylinder choke tube and Express #6 shells, stomping boots and field jacket. (It was over 50 F.)
They brought out two dogs to work for us, and I’m telling you I was truly impressed how fun it was, not only to shoot the birds, but also watching how our guides worked the dogs with tracking collars and beepers to locate them. Some of the brush we were in was over my head (which isn’t really that high), and we still knew where the dogs were.
When the dogs found the birds, they would go on point and hold it until we could flush the birds. We had three hunters, and of all the birds we flushed, we only missed one. Thanks for a fun hunt.
I also want to say a big “thank you” to J.O. Miller and Sons Concrete of Shreve for inviting Taryn and me to their Christmas dinner to share our stories and show some of the pictures of our hunts. If you would like to have us come to an event, just call me at 330-231-1322 or email me at hunter.hanna@hotmail.com.
Finally, as I was driving through the suburbs of Columbus today, I was mystified as to how people can live so close together: some fancy, some not; some mansions, some condos; tiny boxes stacked on top of each other and tiny (or no) yards with maybe a tree.
Then I remembered something Jesus taught. It’s what’s on the inside that’s important. No, not what you have in your house, but what’s inside your heart (I Timothy 1:15, 2 Timothy 2:22 and Matthew 5:8). Inside those houses are people’s lives. Inside your heart is where Jesus desires to dwell. Open the door and let him in.
God bless and happy New Year everyone!