It's that time of year again. I actually used to go through the years relatively unaware of the passing of hunting season...until 7 years ago. As I joined myself with the Myhre clan, I became aware of what a huge deal it is. After witnessing this event year after year, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that there is no instinctive difference between men and women (in general - I realize, of course, there are always exceptions).
Obviously, the vast majority of hunters are men. It's not so much that women are discouraged from hunting. In fact, I think most men like the idea of a woman who hunts. It's just that we don't have that ambition and desire to spend all day out in the cold, tracking down and killing an animal for food that is more difficult to prepare than what we could easily pick up at the grocery store.
The men I've talked with who hunt speak of this heart-pounding, sweaty-palmed, take-your-breath-away adrenaline rush they get when they see a deer. Apparently, the thrill and excitement of "the hunt" is practically indescribable. I actually tried the hunting thing a few years back. And I saw a deer or two. Yeah. I didn't get that reaction. I'm afraid I made a pathetic hunter.
After going out before sunrise and sitting in sub-zero temperatures for 3-4 hours (motionless, I might add, so as not to be heard by the deer), staring at a bunch of snow-covered trees, tears started to trickle down my cheeks from the pain of my nearly frost-bitten feet and hands. I later realized that the lining had been missing in my boots, which didn't help, but I'm one of those people who gets cold feet in the middle of July. I think it took several days for me to warm up completely. Fun, fun.
But the boys enjoy it and they get in some good quality male bonding, and that's what matters. It looks like Elena might want to join in when she's older. Although I think keeping silent and motionless might be a bit of a challenge for her. She likes the hats anyway.
