Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 9:15:50 GMT -4
Life’s Funny
It had happened rather innocently, through casual conversations on my favorite hunting forum BEA. It was on the subject of bear hunting books that fellow member Sideswipe and I began to correspond. We talked about our respective hunting areas, styles & regulation, comparing notes on how different things are on opposite shores of the continent. The one commonality was our love of hunting.
As it would happen Sideswipe had found a book for me by Ralph Flowers, a true bear hunting icon from the west coast, which he graciously sent to me here in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Not a big deal you might say … but what Sideswipe would not have you know is that he sent it in the throws of a heart attack. With all that was going on in his life, he was worried about me getting that book. I didn’t know whether to be mad or indebted. To me, it spoke volumes of this man’s tenacity and character. It was a no brainer as to what book I would be returning to him, it was a history of the rough and rugged guides in Nova Scotia … Guides of the Northwoods by Mike Parker. A great read!
As we conversed back and forth through emails, Sideswipe had mentioned that he and his bride had friends in Boston that they planned on visiting. Now you know how everyone says, “Well … if you’re ever up this way …”. Bare in mind Sideswipe is in Washington State and I’m on Canada’s east coast … what are the chances that will ever happen?” I thought. Now don’t get me wrong here, my offer was sincere, it’s just one of those things you think will never happen. Well how wrong was I! Plans had been in the works and Sideswipe and his wife Hot Lips (his words not mine) were headed East in July. Sideswipe, at the coercing of his wife, suggested since they were headed east why not drop in on Tuk & his wife.
So, when Sideswipe had posed the scenario to me I was elated. I knew from our talks that there seemed to be some type of unspoken bond and I was truly excited at the prospect of actually meeting face to face. Keep in mind that Boston to Halifax is no cab ride, we’re looking at about 750 miles out of their way, but I guess when you travel across that continent what’s another few hundred eh!
After several attempts everything was in motion. Sideswipe and his wife had arrived in Boston and after a few schedule changes they were flying into Halifax. I had copied off the flight information and times and was to pick them up on Wednesday morning. Now here’s where the story takes a turn for the worse. Tuesday afternoon I’m at work when the wife calls me and asks “were you supposed to be at the Airport this morning?”
“Nooooooo” I screamed, I felt my heart fall out through the hole of my Willy. I quickly pulled the flight itinerary from my briefcase and my worst fears were realized … I had the wrong day. Well Welcome to Canada eh. I could just picture the two of them wondering the airport stopping every guy in a yellow shirt, “You Chip, You Chip?” Then having them wonder if I had been in an accident on the way to the airport. In a flea’s breath I was on the phone to the Airport Hotel and made contact. As upset and embarrassed at my stupidity as I was, Bruce and Jane immediately put me at ease, they had had a long day and were actually enjoying some time to rest up enjoy a meal with “Canadian “ beer. Suffice is to say …we laugh about it now.
At the Hotel, bright and early Wednesday morning, I sat in the lobby and awaited the inevitable … to grovel for forgiveness. Bruce was first through the archway, Tall and lean and grinning, almost laughingly, that there really was someone there to pick them up. Right behind was the petite figure of Jane almost dwarfed by Bruce’s stature, with a smile that instantly warms the soul. So there we were, it was real …face-to-face, almost surreal. The trip from the airport was only an hour but I must say “Poor Jane”, she sat in the back quiet as a church mouse as Bruce and I gabbed about hunting non-stop. No wonder she needed to lay down when we got home.
With only a few days to take in the local sites and history, we did a little touring about. I took Bruce to the bear woods for few hours. After all he had come all this way, what kind of host would I be? As luck would have it, Litekeeper & Orion’s Mistress (aka KPR & OM other BEA members), were available so a trip across province was definitely in order. We met at the Historic Port Royal Habitation…birthplace of Canada (rather fitting I thought), and toured the historic fort. I won’t bore you with the day-to-day details of our visit other than to say we took in some local scenery and managed a stop (or two, at Jane’s request) at our local watering hole “The Knot Pub” … a spot both Bruce and Jane took an instant liking to. Yep they’ve been there, done that and even got the Tee shirts.
As they say, “All good things must come to an end” and I was really not looking forward to having to say good-bye. After a few hugs & handshakes it was time to part and as I drove away from the terminal one last look in the rearview brought a wave of emotion over me as I felt my eyes welling up.
When I returned home Kim and I decided a beer at the “Pub” was in order to honor our newfound friends. Perched in our usual booth we discussed at length how much we enjoyed our visit with Bruce and Jane and how amazingly well we got along. Interesting sometimes how people meet. Two couples from opposite sides of a continent, boys talking about bears, somehow, through what I can only describe as Devine Guidance, ends up becoming our dearest of friends.
Ain’t Life Funny !
It had happened rather innocently, through casual conversations on my favorite hunting forum BEA. It was on the subject of bear hunting books that fellow member Sideswipe and I began to correspond. We talked about our respective hunting areas, styles & regulation, comparing notes on how different things are on opposite shores of the continent. The one commonality was our love of hunting.
As it would happen Sideswipe had found a book for me by Ralph Flowers, a true bear hunting icon from the west coast, which he graciously sent to me here in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Not a big deal you might say … but what Sideswipe would not have you know is that he sent it in the throws of a heart attack. With all that was going on in his life, he was worried about me getting that book. I didn’t know whether to be mad or indebted. To me, it spoke volumes of this man’s tenacity and character. It was a no brainer as to what book I would be returning to him, it was a history of the rough and rugged guides in Nova Scotia … Guides of the Northwoods by Mike Parker. A great read!
As we conversed back and forth through emails, Sideswipe had mentioned that he and his bride had friends in Boston that they planned on visiting. Now you know how everyone says, “Well … if you’re ever up this way …”. Bare in mind Sideswipe is in Washington State and I’m on Canada’s east coast … what are the chances that will ever happen?” I thought. Now don’t get me wrong here, my offer was sincere, it’s just one of those things you think will never happen. Well how wrong was I! Plans had been in the works and Sideswipe and his wife Hot Lips (his words not mine) were headed East in July. Sideswipe, at the coercing of his wife, suggested since they were headed east why not drop in on Tuk & his wife.
So, when Sideswipe had posed the scenario to me I was elated. I knew from our talks that there seemed to be some type of unspoken bond and I was truly excited at the prospect of actually meeting face to face. Keep in mind that Boston to Halifax is no cab ride, we’re looking at about 750 miles out of their way, but I guess when you travel across that continent what’s another few hundred eh!
After several attempts everything was in motion. Sideswipe and his wife had arrived in Boston and after a few schedule changes they were flying into Halifax. I had copied off the flight information and times and was to pick them up on Wednesday morning. Now here’s where the story takes a turn for the worse. Tuesday afternoon I’m at work when the wife calls me and asks “were you supposed to be at the Airport this morning?”
“Nooooooo” I screamed, I felt my heart fall out through the hole of my Willy. I quickly pulled the flight itinerary from my briefcase and my worst fears were realized … I had the wrong day. Well Welcome to Canada eh. I could just picture the two of them wondering the airport stopping every guy in a yellow shirt, “You Chip, You Chip?” Then having them wonder if I had been in an accident on the way to the airport. In a flea’s breath I was on the phone to the Airport Hotel and made contact. As upset and embarrassed at my stupidity as I was, Bruce and Jane immediately put me at ease, they had had a long day and were actually enjoying some time to rest up enjoy a meal with “Canadian “ beer. Suffice is to say …we laugh about it now.
At the Hotel, bright and early Wednesday morning, I sat in the lobby and awaited the inevitable … to grovel for forgiveness. Bruce was first through the archway, Tall and lean and grinning, almost laughingly, that there really was someone there to pick them up. Right behind was the petite figure of Jane almost dwarfed by Bruce’s stature, with a smile that instantly warms the soul. So there we were, it was real …face-to-face, almost surreal. The trip from the airport was only an hour but I must say “Poor Jane”, she sat in the back quiet as a church mouse as Bruce and I gabbed about hunting non-stop. No wonder she needed to lay down when we got home.
With only a few days to take in the local sites and history, we did a little touring about. I took Bruce to the bear woods for few hours. After all he had come all this way, what kind of host would I be? As luck would have it, Litekeeper & Orion’s Mistress (aka KPR & OM other BEA members), were available so a trip across province was definitely in order. We met at the Historic Port Royal Habitation…birthplace of Canada (rather fitting I thought), and toured the historic fort. I won’t bore you with the day-to-day details of our visit other than to say we took in some local scenery and managed a stop (or two, at Jane’s request) at our local watering hole “The Knot Pub” … a spot both Bruce and Jane took an instant liking to. Yep they’ve been there, done that and even got the Tee shirts.
As they say, “All good things must come to an end” and I was really not looking forward to having to say good-bye. After a few hugs & handshakes it was time to part and as I drove away from the terminal one last look in the rearview brought a wave of emotion over me as I felt my eyes welling up.
When I returned home Kim and I decided a beer at the “Pub” was in order to honor our newfound friends. Perched in our usual booth we discussed at length how much we enjoyed our visit with Bruce and Jane and how amazingly well we got along. Interesting sometimes how people meet. Two couples from opposite sides of a continent, boys talking about bears, somehow, through what I can only describe as Devine Guidance, ends up becoming our dearest of friends.
Ain’t Life Funny !
