Today is Hump Day.
We are half the way there. Okay,
it’s Friday, but I’m not talking about getting through the week, I’m talking
about getting through the year. No this
is not June 21st, it’s the Third Friday in March. That means we are halfway through the year
to the Third Friday in September—the 47th Annual Wild Game Feed at
Irvine Lake.
A full year is an extremely long time to wait for the Wild Game Feed.
Really long. Lo-o-o-o-o-ng! And the closer it get, the longer it seems
we have to wait. When it finally
arrives, it’s over wa-a-a-a-a-ay too fast.
Then we have to wait again.
I like the anticipation of the Feed’s arrival. Throughout the year I set aside time to
examine the various items I plan to bring and to make certain all is ready for
the big day. That means examining the
cigar supply, checking on the pickled quail eggs, re-supplying my box of
‘stuff’ (things I bring along just because), and looking over the condition of
my pop-up shelter. I don’t do this
every week, just once or twice a month.
Last year someone asked me if I spend all my time thinking
about the Feed, and the answer is ‘No.’ I do think about it a lot, but not for
the reasons one may assume. Yes, it is
a lot of unique fun. The food is great,
the games are great, the exhibits are great.
What I really miss though are the friends I have made over the
years. While I enjoy everything about
the Feed, if I had to pick my favorite part, it’s the friendship of this group
of men.
I wouldn’t mind doing this two or three times during the
year, but I think the organizers would balk.
After all, they are the ones who do all the work and have to think about
it every day. To me they are heros. An event of this size is no small feat. So I guess I’ll settle for just once a year,
and I’ll be glad to wait while they create the best Wild Game Feed anywhere.
