TexasSportsman
Well-Known Member
I am watching this program on Outdoor America. This guy is on a moose hunt in a remote part of Alaska/Canada. He took a call from his wife on a satellite phone. She explained to him that she is in the hospital because she had severe abdominal pain which turns out to be appendicitis. She's in the final months of her pregnancy. She further explains that surgery so close to her delivery date is very dangerous to the baby. If they don't operate the appendix can burst and she could lose her baby. He feels bad, is sympathetic...but doesn't feel bad enough. He apologizes. There is static on the call and is disconnected. I don't recall if he tries to call her back. He continues the hunt.
The guide is an older man who obviously has kids and grandkids. He has a puzzled look on his face as to why his client decided to keep hunting. He cautiously suggested to his client that the group head back to camp so he can make it to civilization and catch a flight back to be with his wife and future son/daughter. The guy is obviously torn. You can tell by the look on his face. He's thinking, "...should I go back to be with a woman I think I love or should I continue on the hunt that I've planned for months, forked over thousands of dollars and burned a several vacation/comp days for a hunt of a lifetime because I love hunting maybe just a little more...".
The guy tells his guide that they're going to stay the course and keep hunting. He further states that she has family by her side and that she'll be OK. So all the guys, regardless of how they really feel, agree to continue the hunt. In another scene they spy a huge moose behind thick brush and only the massive antlers are visible. The guide tells him he's a fool if he doesn't take the shot on the last day of the hunt. The moose slowly ambles out of sight.
My wife is quietly watching the program. She's checking scores of college football from yesterday. She's from the Philippines and has taken a huge interest in college football as well as hunting and fishing. She accompanies me to the range for practice and is able to shoulder and shoot the AR and Ruger 10/22. She loves the outdoors and has become an avid photographer. I can tell she's waiting for my reaction.
My reaction was an honest one and not to score points with my wife. I honestly stated that he never should have booked the hunt knowing his wife is pregnant. Sure she has family there but she wants HIM there. I realize that many of these hunts are planned several months to a year or more in advance. Deposits can be non-refundable with hundreds or thousands of dollars on the line. But life is full of unexpected events that can kill a trip; family emergencies, the supervisor cancels your vacation due to a project deadline that was moved, you were laid off, your own health that changed dramatically, etc.
If I were to book any kind of expensive hunt I'd buy insurance.
This program also got me to rethink, which is what we should do now and gain, what we value in life and what's important.
What was the outcome of his wife's medical situation? Maybe nothing. Maybe a divorce that cleaned him out and hunting anytime soon is not an option. Maybe they stayed married and she takes every chance to throw this in his face. We'll never know.
What I do know is woman have the memory of an elephant. They may not remember to let you now when 3000 miles has passed on the car for an oil change/tire rotation or when the car makes a strange noise so you can look into it. But they certainly remember every other little thing that remotely rubbed them the wrong way.
Ask me how I know....
The guide is an older man who obviously has kids and grandkids. He has a puzzled look on his face as to why his client decided to keep hunting. He cautiously suggested to his client that the group head back to camp so he can make it to civilization and catch a flight back to be with his wife and future son/daughter. The guy is obviously torn. You can tell by the look on his face. He's thinking, "...should I go back to be with a woman I think I love or should I continue on the hunt that I've planned for months, forked over thousands of dollars and burned a several vacation/comp days for a hunt of a lifetime because I love hunting maybe just a little more...".
The guy tells his guide that they're going to stay the course and keep hunting. He further states that she has family by her side and that she'll be OK. So all the guys, regardless of how they really feel, agree to continue the hunt. In another scene they spy a huge moose behind thick brush and only the massive antlers are visible. The guide tells him he's a fool if he doesn't take the shot on the last day of the hunt. The moose slowly ambles out of sight.
My wife is quietly watching the program. She's checking scores of college football from yesterday. She's from the Philippines and has taken a huge interest in college football as well as hunting and fishing. She accompanies me to the range for practice and is able to shoulder and shoot the AR and Ruger 10/22. She loves the outdoors and has become an avid photographer. I can tell she's waiting for my reaction.
My reaction was an honest one and not to score points with my wife. I honestly stated that he never should have booked the hunt knowing his wife is pregnant. Sure she has family there but she wants HIM there. I realize that many of these hunts are planned several months to a year or more in advance. Deposits can be non-refundable with hundreds or thousands of dollars on the line. But life is full of unexpected events that can kill a trip; family emergencies, the supervisor cancels your vacation due to a project deadline that was moved, you were laid off, your own health that changed dramatically, etc.
If I were to book any kind of expensive hunt I'd buy insurance.
This program also got me to rethink, which is what we should do now and gain, what we value in life and what's important.
What was the outcome of his wife's medical situation? Maybe nothing. Maybe a divorce that cleaned him out and hunting anytime soon is not an option. Maybe they stayed married and she takes every chance to throw this in his face. We'll never know.
What I do know is woman have the memory of an elephant. They may not remember to let you now when 3000 miles has passed on the car for an oil change/tire rotation or when the car makes a strange noise so you can look into it. But they certainly remember every other little thing that remotely rubbed them the wrong way.
Ask me how I know....
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