The Aaron House in October

Friday night and I'm relaxing at The Aaron House. Quiet night here. One of the guys is in Spring Green working on a film crew for a movie. He spent the summer in California doing an internship and appears to be on his way with a career. Another student-resident came home all excited tonight. The young man just returned from Kentucky where he watched his younger brother graduate from basic training. The experience was clearly moving. Sounds like we will have a young man move from Aaron's House to the US Army in February.

The Aaron House experience is a pleasure. We have an opening for one person and two days ago I received a call from a young man asking if he could apply. Tonight he called back to say his application was ready and he has his first interview scheduled. I'm glad we have an opening. The hope in this person's voice is special.

The picture above is my friend Tim and his son Charlie. Charlie is my God-son and our hunting days go back many years already. Charlie and Aaron were six or seven years apart but they had a nice bond. Aaron liked Charlie. The last time they saw eachother was on a pheasant hunt, 4/2/05. "Nice mop" was the way Aaron greeted Charlie that day. The last image Aaron had of Charlie was watching Charlie on the side of a road trying to make a rooster pheasant fly. Aaron and I sat in our truck laughing at Charlie's animated antics.

Tim sent the picture above to me along with a few others from a hunt we did together a few weeks ago. The three of us and my dog Doc on a little pond a short drive from my house. I am grateful for the time with Charlie even though I feel the loss of Aaron deeply on these outings. I should have my son too. Sure, Aaron would likely be away from home, but there would be some opportunity to be complete again sharing a father-son day afield with friends. We should be able to have these days for years.

This link might take you to a slide show of Tim and his brother Dave with their sons.



The road winds without end.
Lives pause and excellerate.
Families arrive at destinations.
I left the road with Aaron.
A nod to complete families,
their moments are shared memories.

I miss the moments which should be pictures.