The Coach Series: These Two Men

These two men. I am unsure if they will ever understand the impact that they have had on me growing up and to this day.

My Dad.

He has loved and supported me every day of my life. He never once saw me as a girl going out in the woods, he saw me as his daughter and friend who he wanted to go hunting with. He raised me to be strong, independent, and one fine hunter. He raised my brother and I together in the field and taught us both a strong and intense love for the outdoors. A love that has led me to a career in the outdoors and a love that has helped my brother and I find significant others who share our same passion.

He is the best Dad there is.

My brother.

The first hunt I went on with my Dad and him, he whispered to me that, “hey, I don’t think Dad wants you to go on this hunt.” I don’t blame him one bit because first of all who wants their pesky little sister around and second of all spending time with our Dad is a treat in itself and sometimes you just want that time with him.

I love to pester my brother about that because to this day he has been one of my best hunting partners. He has always been patient with me, let me tag along and been right by my side on many of my kills. And I have been lucky enough to be by his to see him take a Bison and Bighorn Sheep with his bow. We are always sad when we can’t go on each other’s hunts because that is what we have been doing for years now and that is what we know. I am lucky to be so close with my brother, my friend.

This past week, these two men became a father and grandfather to a beautiful baby girl. I can’t wait to see them take on these new roles. All I want is for this baby girl to know that she is going to follow in the footsteps of these two amazing men just as I have. She is going to be a beautiful, strong, independent woman who hopefully shares the love of the outdoors just like all of us do.

Happy Father’s Day to these two men.