My Dad, Joe, was a hard man. He had survived fifty combat missions in WW2, was a coal miner, and had a career as a math teacher. He also raised two boys and married for life. Not an easy path but one to be proud of.

When we went to hunting or fishing camp, my dad was in charge. If you lost a big fish, missed a big buck, or made a mistake, any mistake, you were going to hear it from Joe! Some of the consternation was deserved and some was not. The ridicule was spread over everyone, not just my brother and me. 

As Joe aged, he softened a bit and realized that he may have over spoken, mis-spoken, or simply talked about things too much. It was at this time that “Joe’s Rule” became active for some of his outdoor buddies. My brother and I never received this privilege.

“Joe’s Rule” allowed his buddies one “Go to He#l Joe” a day. They could speak it, write it, or shout it, but just one was allowed. This rule was reciprocal, and Joe was allowed to also give each rule participant a “Go to He#l “response. 

When the big trout broke off, the buck or pheasant were missed, and Joe made a negative comment, “Go to He#l Joe” was the response. Joe kept his temper and tongue in his holsters. This worked for years and kept everyone’s anger in check. You got to say what you thought without retribution. 

Part Of “Joe’s Rule” was that you could not save up your one per day “Go to He#l Joe’s”. Use them or lose them. My Dad is gone now but his rules and much more live on. 

My son and I are headed to Alaska for a great fishing trip. Since I am “Joe’s boy”, I also get a bit excited when a big halibut or salmon does not come over the gunwale. Just in case my mouth slips and says something mean, I am presenting my son with “Joe’s Rule”. With inflation, I promised my son that he would be allowed two ‘Go to He#l Dad’s “a day. These too cannot be saved. Use them or lose them.

At the end of each hunting or fishing camp, back in the day, the camp members that had not used up their “Go to He#l Joes”, would chime off around the evening campfire or before getting into our sleeping bags. Not everyone had their “Go to He#l Joe’s” saved.  It was like the Walton Family tv show. “Good night and oh yea, Go to He#l Joe!”

Hopefully my son Kyle will have his two “Go to He#l Dad’s” saved, if I don’t make any negative comments or suggestions. 

You cannot let a good thing go to waste. 

Montana Grant