Montana Grant is a Leo, so that means my Birthday is coming up fast and in a hurry. Oh Boy! Like I need to be reminded. It is not about doing what we want to do but rather what we still can do.
I practice the aging process using 60 as the oldest age. Once you get to the sixty mark, we begin to count backwards. I am now converging with my kids. This year I will turn 48 years old. It sounds way better than the reality.
When we were kids, Birthday Season was wonderful and enjoyed. Parties celebrated the special day. Friends and family showered us with gifts and cash. Each years Birthday cake was special and appreciated.
Today, elders don’t need to be reminded of how old we are. We feel it every day as we get out of bed, take daily walks, and find our bodies rebelling with every flex and task. There was a time when we could lose weight easily, get back into shape quickly, and look good with some simple muscle toning exercises.
Each hunting season meant it was time to get back into hunt shape. Our shoulders needed to pull a bow, our legs needed to trek and climb the steep hills and mountains. Our hearts needed to pound effectively, and our bodies needed to keep up. Each hunting season is also one less.
Hunting is a young man’s sport. It once was nothing to hike/hunt 10-12 miles a day. Packing out critters was just part of the routine. We never considered that as we got older that would change. Now we consider the work before pulling the trigger. I hoped to hunt hard forever but that dream may need to be changed.
Fishing works better for older anglers. Boats can replace legs, wheelers on the ice can save a big hike. Organizing and consolidating gear can reduce weight and save struggling with too much stuff. You need to leave space for the fish. Bank fishing can be very rewarding and fun if the bank is close to the truck.
So, what gift can you get an older Birthday Boy? I enjoy receiving a Birthday Card from my Aunt June. She has never forgotten me over my lifetime. There is little hunting and fishing gear needed. I don’t eat as much as I once did. Treating the family to dinner can cost a fortune. A good steak dinner starts at around $60.
It’s nice to just be remembered. Facebook friends sign in annually. Thousands of students, friends, and family sent me messages and cards. I appreciate that they remember and care. That’s a nice legacy.
My wife has found a fun way to bring the family together on my special day. She has a bushel of Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs delivered to our Montana home. The family and friends join together for a crab feast. It is expensive but cheaper than a group steak dinner at a restaurant. We have steamed corn, devil eggs, potato salad, brownies and ice cream, and all the fun fixings for a crab feast.
The empty crab shells get turned into crabs and Christmas ornaments. Picked meat becomes crab cakes and soup later in the season. It’s the gift that keeps on giving and reconnects us with our Maryland heritage. Blue crabs are simply the best and my favorite treat.
Steaming and Dreaming!
Montana Grant
