Hunting Snakes and other Memories of a Father
My father has been gone almost 14 years from the world. In my mind and heart he never left. I see him in the mirror, hear him in my words, and sense him in the places I travel. I believe he and I are quite different. His background and circumstance put him on a different path and despite the gulf between our interests and experience, there is a common ground. Perhaps it’s something programmed in our DNA that allowed a closeness despite the differences, my early departure from home to seek my fortune, or the gulfs between connection.
I’ve not visited since his funeral. Memories and thoughts of days past surface at this time of year. And I want to go to Ohio.
There have been more than a few plans to ride the Vespa to Ohio to visit his grave, say hello, and talk about all the things I never learned about the man. Like snake hunting. The image of him with his foot on a boulder was etched in my mind at an early age as I loved to sit with my mother and page through the family photo albums. She knew as little about the snake hunting as I did though in her case by choice. And I never got around to asking dad about it.
I neglected to ask about a lot of things.
Destination Ohio — it’s where I want to go. Probably won’t find this trip outlined in any tourist promotion brochure on on the “Ohio. Find it Here” website.
***This post is part of a blogging challenge…***
A Challenge of Commitment, Ingenuity and Storytelling
Toadmama has once again unveiled her challenge to bloggers to post every day in February on a specific topic. They’re listed on a post titled Brave, Bold, Blogger Challenge. I participated last year and found the exercise instructive and creatively emancipating from the regular tyranny of blogging. If you have a blog and need a sudden, rapid injection of writing mojo, try it out yourself…
Are you going to hunt snakes while in Ohio?
Who knows what might happen when you’re in Ohio.
A lovely post. I like to believe those who we love travel with us wherever we are.
Methinks “we” all wonder of our past. Where we came from and where we are going. Who started us on this journey and why?
And us on the down side of our years enroaches upon us, we have a strange need to know more before we too pass.
My first thought Steve was for you to just “do it,” on your Vespa. It is a voyage of learning for you.
Perhaps a goal post retirement?
My own father died in suddenly in 1982 at age 62; my Mum in 2011 at age 95; ironically while I was very ill in hospital and not expected to survive, intact.
I miss them both, see them as in photographs and memories, knowing I shall meet their sprits once again, somewhere.
Whatever happens perhaps take us your readers along for the ride. We too are interested; me more in particular, viewing the video from 2006. I saw and heard the voice of a person whose previous descriptors did not jive with the voice or the commentary.
Maybe the older we get the more we realize we just don’t know a whole hell of a lot.
I’ve wanted to ride the Vespa to Ohio for a few years now but circumstance has prevented it. Once the weather warms I’ll consider it again. When I do I’m sure to document the adventure…
I see he’s holding a snake stick. I wonder what’s in the shoulder bag. He does look like you some. He sure was thin. He did like the outdoors and you do like Edward Abbey so you are not all that different that way. I feel we aren’t separate from other other people and we are absolutely not separate from our ancestors like you said. Pretty much everything we think and feel we got from our ancestors and to a lesser degree the people/cultures around us.
It’s a bag full ‘o snakes no doubt!
My dad liked the outdoors but not in the same manner I do. I know that for sure. If he had more time and wasn’t working six days a week maybe it would have been different.
I have gotten a lot of who I am from my parents. I’m just a version off…
I did some detective work. Unite States Natural Gas (UNG) well number 4108 is near Greenville Texas. You can see it at www drilling maps dot com, enter 4108 in the search window.
Thanks for the information Paul. It makes sense. The photo was made in 1953. He was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas when he was recalled into the Army. There’s another picture from the same place of one of his snake catching buddies. Maybe it was something he was doing on leave. Strange, he looks too young to be in the Army. Scary to think it was his second tour and that he was engaged in World War II…
Did he see combat? Do you have any photos that me took from the period?
pdr
A lovely old photo to help one’s memories.
Ride safe.
Hard to beat lovely old photos…
You might find terrain in Ohio quite different from what you’re used to. For example, I ride in the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio and the roads are straight and flat. I would enjoy a little more variety, but it’s good for me as a beginning rider at 59.
Looking at maps planning the trip I could see how dramatically things change as I get to the Ohio border. Gone are the lovely winding roads of Pennsylvania — replaced by the grid system.
Congratulations on your riding career!
That’s a great pic. Seems that snake hunting was serious business.
“I neglected to ask about a lot of things.”
Depending on your disposition, this is a dangerous path to tread.
I hope you find your way back to Ohio.
Anything involving the word snake is serious business!
I try to ask more questions now. It’s a good thing.
Great pic. I can certainly see your dad in you. I can also see how that image would grab your attention as a kid. Thanks for playing along!
Thank you for providing he challenge. The rewards of writing under duress are extensive.