by Joel Aversing | Oct 17, 2014 | Joel Aversing, Stories
Second Week of October by Joel Aversing
The crisp air, falling leaves, bonfires and football games, a few things that come to mind when you think of early October, but that’s not why the second week of October is my favorite time of year. It’s hunting season, but more importantly it’s a time when all the men in the family get together and forget to act like gentlemen and go camping. Manners go out the window, as we drink beer and whisky around the poker table and curse at the refs when they make a bad call against LSU.
Now I only go hunting once a year, so I can’t tell you I go for the sport, or just to shoot off some rifles and shotguns, that’s a small part of it. Yes all this is primitive and it feels good, but to me what’s more primitive is the gathering of a family or “tribe”. Enjoying each other’s company while I cook breakfast on a makeshift stove while having a MORNING beer, and listening to my brother in-law telling me “you’re burning the bacon, that shit is burnt”, these are good times.
There was a time when my son would come out camping and all he wanted to do was see what he could burn in the campfire. He was such a good fire poker. Now he’s toting an old crack barrel shotgun that’s actually four times older than he is and the pellet gun now gets left in the closet.
The young nephews have grown, have beards, and kids of their own. Pop still says “meet back at 9:30 unless you’re having fun, I got nowhere to be”, and the men secretly still try to out-cook one another. My son still likes to tag along with his Grandpa but is willing to explore the Kisatchie wilderness on his own.
If I’ve learned anything in the last fifteen years hunting with the family it’s that change is constant but a family’s bond is forever, and to bring plenty of toilet paper because you will be sh*tting in the woods.
by Joel Aversing | Jun 2, 2014 | Joel Aversing, Stories
The Fleeting Summer by Joel Aversing
As the heat rolls in and the days grow longer, the unmistakable sounds of summer emerge: the sizzle of meat on a hot grill, the splash and laughter of the kids in the pool, the distant sound of your neighbor mowing his lawn and more personally, the sound of my son repetitively bouncing his basketball on the pavement, as he strives for the perfect shot.
As I watch him, I realize that he’s at that magical age, a few weeks shy of 14, two months away from high school, a time of much change in his life. He is straddling the line between childhood and becoming a full-fledged teenager. Sure his age makes him a teenager already, but his actions, rolling around in the backyard with his dog, cuddling on the sofa with his mom, tell me he’s not quite there yet. Though, there are some days where his attitude and constant texting with girls remind me that he’s on the cusp.
This summer will be a journey of self discovery for him. It may be his last summer of freedom as next summer his hours may be filled with a part-time job. He’s old enough to stay home alone now and for us to trust him to walk to his friend’s house unaccompanied. I’m grateful that he enjoys exploring the outdoors just as much as he enjoys exploring the worlds in his video games. Above all, I hope he takes the time this summer to enjoy his last few months of childhood, digging holes, poking things with sticks, exploring old buildings and shooting his favorite basketball shot over and over again before this time is gone forever. One last crazy summer of freedom, and I’ll be there every step of the way with my camera capturing each moment of his transition from child to young man.
All shots were taken using the Lumia 1020 WindowsPhone. Post processed in Fantasia Painter and Oggl.
