Still her Cowboy's blog: "Acceptance"

      Sitting here watching Dewey sleep in his easy chair.Got him home from the hospital a bit ago.Docs say he won't see tomorrow he's so ate up with cancer.He wants to die in peace in his own home,not in some hospital. I don't blame him,that's how I would want to go.I'm just here so he doesn't leave this world alone.

     I posted of picture of a nice big buck he shot about 6 years ago.He and I spent many days fishing and hunting together, shared more than a few camp fires talking about the good ol' days.Dewey loved to hunt,he couldn't shoot worth a spit but he loved being out in the deer woods.We were about to cross a power line clearing when Dewey saw that buck about 300 yards off.He said,"Don I want that monster ".I just said " well shoot him".He said "you know me and this old 243,I'll probably hit him in the ass". I told him to just settle up against a tree,take his time and put that bullet behind its shoulder. He said he'd try but asked me to be ready with that neck shot.I just told him to do his thing and I'll do mine. Sure enough Dewey hit that buck in the ass.It jumped I swear 12 feet in the air,spun and took a have dozen steps when my bullet hit his neck and put him down. That buck is still hanging on his wall.

     I wish ya'll could know Dewey.He's a good man who would help anyone trying to help themselves. Not a better mechanic anywhere. He just can't shoot worth a spit.It's gonna be a long remorseful night. I could say I'd rather be anywhere else but I reckon I'm where I need to be.My friend will not die alone.

     Last night as it was getting dark I went out in his back yard and built us a campfire. Seemed fitting of the times we had shared. When he woke up we went out sat down sipped coffee and talked of the good hunts.Dewey brought up that morning we spent eyeballing a clear cut waiting for that wall hanger to step out of the thicket.About noon we went back to camp for a bite.While we was sitting at the fire a truck pulled up and 3 fellers got out.2 carrying rifles and 1 a shotgun and half a bottle ofJim Beam.That shotgun and Beam made me a bit uneasy.All 3 were drunker than Scooter Brown and Dewey says " if y'all gonna be stumblin around our camp drunk would ya unload those firearms." Ol' shotgun piped up sayin' " what if we don't want to". Dewey just reached over and moved my coattail so they could see that 1911 I always carry.Then he said " this man was an Army Ranger longer than you boys have been wipin your own asses.I seen him shoot 3 water moccasins in their heads at 30 steps with that thing in about 3 seconds and he thinks ya oughtta change your minds". You never saw 3 drunks sober up and go to unloading so quick.By the way,it was only 2 water moccasins at about 15 steps.Dewey will stretch it a mite. Later after they left Dewey said he shouldn't have said all that,could a got those boys hurt.I just told him no bud, a drunk with a loaded weapon is a dangerous proposition, especially that damn shotgun. After that rememberence we called it a night.A long night it was.

     This morning he woke up wanting to go to the farm for some peace and quiet. So to the farm we went.When we got there Kate my mule went up to him to get her ears scratched. Dewey told her he'd love to go for a ride around the place.Enough said.Saddled her and helped him up on her.Swung up behind him to keep him steady and we rode all around the farm in the rain.I swear he was grinning like a mule eating crushed ice every step of the way. He's resting on the couch for now. When he wakes up I'll take him back home and sit with him remembering all the good times we had.He would do the same for me.

     Got a feeling more will be added as Dewey nears his end.

    Last Friday night it was 22 degrees and falling,rain and snow mix when my neighbor called. He said his 15 year old son had gone turkey scouting and hadn't made it home.It was 8:30,well after dark and I knew about where he'd be since I'd taken him huntin and called in his first turkey for him to shoot.No way to drive up that mountain so I saddled up my mule Miss Kate and rode to his house a mile away. His pa answered the door and just said when I find him just bring him home,he was going to bed.After he shut the door on me I just stood there a minute in disbelief. I decided it didn't matter what that man did,only what I did.So me and Miss Kate headed up that mountain in the freezing rain and snow.Found that boy around 11:30,soaking wet and half froze.Got some coffee in him,built a small fire,and gave him a dry coat I had in the saddlebags. When he was warmed enough to ride got him up on Kate and took him home.Yup,all the lights were off and ma and pa asleep in their warm dry bed.Was I disappointed? I was enraged to say the least. But again it doesn't matter what someone else does or doesn't do.Still damn hard to swallow though.