THE OLD MAN IN THE MIRROR

He was up early, preparing to pick up his son and go on a deer hunting trip. He had brushed his teeth and was washing his face. He paused to look at himself in the mirror and saw this old man staring back at him.

His 78^th birthday would be here in a few more weeks. He stared back at the old man in the mirror and saw wrinkles carved by frowns and smiles through the years of his life. He looked at the bags under his eyes. He saw his skin sagging down both sides of his chin and what looked like a turkey wattle hanging below. What little hair he saw was gray. The old man in the mirror was in the late autumn of his life.

He pulled into his son’s driveway and smiled as he loaded his deer hunting stuff in the truck. He was proud of the man his son had become. He moved over to let him drive. His old eyes did not see as well in the dark anymore. The interior light revealed specks of gray in his son’s hair. It was hard for him to believe that it would not be long until his son would be a grandpa for the first time. He was in the late early fall of his life.

They did not talk much as the truck traveled down the road to their hunting place. The son glanced over at Dad. He realized even more than before that Dad was getting older. He wondered how many more deer and turkey hunting trips they would have together. Dad was still very active, both mind and body. His health seemed good. But, at his age, you never know.

As the son drove, his mind wandered back to when he was younger, and Dad took him rabbit hunting, squirrel hunting, and dove hunting. He thought of frog gigging trips, fishing, and especially sucker fishing trips. Camping and trout fishing were fun also. Deer camp and hunting together back then was something he will never forget. But he never said anything to him about all those good times.

He thought to himself how he needed to thank him for all the time they had spent together in the outdoors and all the outdoor things his dad had done with his son and daughter when they were in the spring of their lives. He thought this would be a good time to tell him how important all that was to him and them. They drove on in silence.

The truck came to a stop. The old man got out to open the gate. The night sky was getting lighter. They had to hurry to get to their stands before the deer started moving. They wished each other good luck and started in opposite directions. The son stopped, turned around, and watched his dad walking away until he was gone into the dark.

The old man got to his stand and started climbing up. It was not as easy as it used to be. He settled into his deer stand, got everything ready, and sat silently, waiting. He thought about the old man in the mirror that morning and wondered how many more times he would do this thing he loved so much. He still had the strength, the will, and the desire right now. But he knew at his age that could change at any time. He did not want to think about that anymore.

The dark turned to light. The wildlife started a new day. Birds were flying around everywhere. Crows talked to each other all through the valley. Squirrels sounded like deer as they rustled about in the dry leaves of the woods. He watched deer traveling through the frosted field below but out of range.

As the morning wore on, his thoughts turned to all the memories he had from being outdoors with his kids, grandkids, and friends. He even thought of a time when he was fishing on a trout stream and looked over to watch his wife reading a book. He wished for more time to spend outdoors with his son and grandsons living in another state. Where had the time gone? It went so fast. He looked up to the sky and thanked God for blessing him and forgiving him for the wrong things he had done.

In another stand, in another place, his son sat waiting. He also had seen and heard the wildlife. He also had seen deer out of range. There were even a few that he let have a heartbeat for another day. He also thought about outdoor memories he had made with Dad and Mom, his wife, and his kids, as well as the memories he would make with his grandkids someday. The outdoor traditions he learned with Dad would be passed on to future generations. He also looked up and said thank you. He even thought about the season of life he was in, and winter was coming someday.

The day in the deer woods came to an end. There were no deer to field dress and load that day. They talked some on the way home, but it was mostly a silent trip again. The old man was thinking about how he wished his dad would have spent time with him outdoors, but he did not. He did not remember his dad ever telling him he loved him. He had no good memories from the spring and early summer of his life.

The son was thinking about how he needed to tell his dad thank you for all the things he had done with him and for him and his kids. He wanted to look over and tell his dad that he loved him. He did not do it.

The drive home would have been a perfect time to talk to each other about  things they had been thinking that day. Why is it so hard for men to look each other in the eye and tell them how they feel? A day will come when they will wish they had.

They pull into the driveway. As they unloaded the son’s hunting gear, the old man says, I love you, Bub! The son says, Sorry we did not get a deer today. He watches until his dad has driven out of sight. He stands there for a little while, thinking.

The son goes into the house, kisses his wife, and then goes into the bathroom to wash his hands. He looks in the mirror and sees the specks of gray in his beard and hair. His thoughts from the day sweep over him. He wipes a tear away as he thinks of his dad being in the late fall/early winter of his life.

He opens the door to the garage and starts outside. His wife says, Where are you going? I will be right back, he tells her. I need to tell Dad something.