Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Here is my regret, do you have one?

MY REGRET
First let me say even though I have ruffled a few feathers and got some bent ones too, I really appreciate being on here with you guys, everyone of you.
Now my story. Dad and I started fishing at a very early age, I’d say about 1944 give or take a bit. As for hunting I started about 12 give or take a few years. I remember I think 1948 I was a little too young, but what I enjoyed was watching and listening thru the floor register that was located under my bed and gave a view of the Kitchen where Dad’s hunting buddies would come over about 3am for breakfast and had a good time laughing and BSing and as a little kid I got to spy on them. When I started I had save my money and bought a real good Winchester Model 94 .30-30 lever action. I used that until I joined the Navy. When I got out in 1960 Dad gave me a Star gauged .3006 Springfield barreled action he bought thru the NRA. I ordered a fancy Walnut rough stock with a Monte Carlo cheek piece. I drew filed the barrel to get the lath marks off and had a gunsmith cut and Crown the barrel to remove the front sight dove tail. I then finished the stock and sealed really well and glass bedded the barreled action. I put Aluminum pillars in for the action screws to go up thru so there would be no compression changes during changing temps. I free floated the barrel so I could slide a dollar bill the length of the barrel channel without it binding. That rifle shot so good and never changed because of weather. Every year I would take it out to my rifle club’s out door range to check the rifle out before hunting season. It is a 100 yard range so I set the sights to shoot 2” high at 100 yards which would put the 180 gr. Bullet dead on at 200 yards. About the max people might shoot in Western Washington. We were partners forever. He was an amazing individual. He wanted a jet sled for river Steelhead and Salmon fishing so one day he went over to the next town to see a store bought sled someone he knew had. Dad took some measurements and come home and ordered some extra long Marine Plywood and built that sled also using some special African wood for the other parts of the sled. Our LAST fishing trip on the Cowlitz river was 10/23/77. We had launched at a lower boat launch and motored up river with the 50 hp Merc that had a jet pump on it. We were fishing and all of a sudden he said Son you need to get me home. I knew it was a heart attack. He had had his first one in 1963 while I was at the University of Washington. That first one was mild and he at that time just went home to sit on the couch, Dam it! Any way I am screaming down river with the throttle maxed out. There is a slight narrowing on the Cowlitz at the Steelhead/Trout hatchery on Blue creek. I have fished it many times, shoulder to shoulder. I went screaming thru there and of course the fishermen were pissed thinking I was some inconsiderate boater and were cussing me giving me the finger and throwing rocks at me. I didn’t care I was worried about DAD and just returned the finger to them. I got the boat loaded and drove to the house as he insisted and it took considerable effort to talk him into letting me drive him to the small Hospital where I had been born decades before. It is now an assisted living place. Dad never made it past midnight. Waiting up there I was asked if I wanted to see him after he had passed, I declined, wanting to remember him as he was, my Dad and Hunting and Fishing PARTNER. My REGRET is I never started making custom rods until after he passed. I could have made him some very special rods and replace the Store bought ones. When he passed it was very hard on me, He not only was my DAD, but he was my Hunting and Fishing partner I lost that in a blink of an eye.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Thank you for sharing this with us. It must be difficult to have lost the man you loved, admired , and was so close to you. That many of us have also experienced this pain also is of little consequence, or comfort, as I well know. But... It's clear to me that you have many fond memories, try to focus on them. The holidays bring out many things, and the melancholy things are included in that.
All part of life, Brother. We all must pass on.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

My eyes were welling up during the reading of your account...and at the end my tears nearly short circuited my keyboard. Very moving story and I'm sure that you cling to the memories of those living years very dearly....

Somehow we miss people more when they are gone...but hopefully did not take them for granted while they were at our side.

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Made me tear up as well! My dads still around makes me appreciate him that much more even though he’s not much of a hunter or fisherman. 😂🤣😂

I would say this your father “went out with his boots on”! No better way to go to me! I bet when he got to the pearly gates he was bragging about fishing with his boy!!!

Thanks for the post!
J

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Amazing story Kerry had me tearing up also thank you for sharing. I remember your other fishing partner enjoy him an make memories 👍

Danger25 Loc: Philly/ Cape may New Jersey

Great post Kerry…my father was a firefighter and after i became one myself. …i had the unbelievable honor of actually working with him at his firehouse with his crew and fought a couple fire together and learn form the man I consider my hero. After growing up listening to the stories, getting to know his crew, i was treated like royalty at Engine 59 where he spent 38 years. ( they let me think i was doing something but were all watching out for me).. He was a legend and i was a puppy but tried to make him proud. I think i did. He passed of cancer Some years ago and I cherish the times i got to spend with him at the firehouse.

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Thank you Kerry. Your story brought back memories of my dad. Hey was my fishing and hunting partner also. He anyone who reads that and still has their dad takes it to heart and tries to spend my time with them and appreciate them more

Billy awesome Loc: New hampshire

I can’t say much , but I guess we always think that we could have done more. Or something different . Sounds like you had a great dad .I had to ask my dad to bring me fishing and hunting before I could drive myself. He didn’t fish or hunt.. Ha. I was the only one in our family that was an outdoorsman.

DC Loc: Washington state

thanks so many lessons can be learned from your story. It shows the importants of the time we spend with our own family both young and old. Time spent is never time waisted some of the best memories our kids have of us may be the ones we didn't think was any big deal and we are reminded that the time we spend may end up being the last time we spend so value it. The other thing that it reminded me was be slow to judge others when they are doing something you think is wrong like running a boat full speed up a river past other fishermen, you never know what is takeing place in a persons life and it is best to cut each other some slack until you know, we need to be slow to judge and quick to forgive. thanks for your story

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Very moving story Kerry. Lost my dad in 2003. We fished together. More importantly when you're young and starting life in the real world, maybe newly married or your first house, first child or you just need help with something, dad is your go to guy.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

you never know what is takeing place in a persons life and it is best to cut each other some slack until you know, we need to be slow to judge and quick to forgive. thanks for your story[/quote]

So true.

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

Made me misty as well. You got that last trip with him and he went reletively quickly.
My Dad took weeks to die from cancer(his 3rd kind) in 1989. My hunting memory of him was Fall of 1957. He was recovering from kidney cancer and was pretty shaky so we stayed together. He shot a nice 3pt buck about 1/2 mile from the truck. I dressed it out and together we got it up on a high stump and across my shoulders, he carried the guns and we started back down to the truck. About 100 yds and I took my gun back
50 ads and I had his gun too. By the time we got to the truck I was holding him up too. We had no idea starting out how weak he was. He did make a full recovery and lived another 30 yrs. My regret is moving to MT chasing a dream and leaving Dad running the farm by himself. My oldest brother joined the Navy and little brother was less than no help. My dream crashed and I couldn't afford to move back when he needed me.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Kerry you're a lucky man to have enjoyed a dad like that. Don't know if you've seen these before. I keep them on my phone. 👍👍

Jeremy Loc: America

Good story Kerry. I have always really appreciated your friendship and phone conversations. I’m really sorry to hear about your dads final day. At least you two were fishing on that final day. Thank you for sharing the story. Your a good man buddy. I think it’s great when you make rods for the neighbor kids etc.

Those kids will always remember you as a really good person.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Great story Kerry and thanks for sharing! I am sure it was not easy to do.
I have shared a few stories about my parents and yes, I have some regrets. We do what we can, but it may seem as it was never enough.
Preserve the memories and share them with others.