"Rainbows"

an article by "Ernie", aka Plasticman, Staff Pro

When I was a very young boy back in the 1950’s, I learned a lesson from my Grandfather that, thankfully, is here to stay.

One day while my grandfather, Red as everyone called this 6’5” Irishman, and I were feeding the cattle on his farm. I asked him about that thing in the sky. I was a very wide-eyed boy, all of about 5 years of age, and full of the normal things that 5 year olds are full of. We were riding across the field in his Jeep pick-up and placing hay for the cattle to eat. The thing in the sky was so bright and it came all the way down to the ground over on the next farm. “Papaw”, I said, What’s that? And my world was forever changed from that day forward.

“Youngin” he said, “that’s a Rainbow. One of the most wonderful sighs that we as humans on this planet get to enjoy after each and every rain when the sun shines right after it stops raining. Well, after the thousand questions about humans, planets, sunshine, wonderful things and the normal things that 5 year olds ask, I started to listen very close. “Youngin, there are few God given rights that we have to enjoy, and that sight is one of those that I hold dear to my heart.” From there, I started asking those 5 year olds questions about everything again until he mentioned hunting.

“Youngin, you’re just about old enough to learn what hunting is and what hunting isn’t. Now listen close,” he said, “cause this is very important to me and the things that I hold dear in my heart. When we go out and hunt for squirrels for supper--that’s why we hunt. It provides us with a wonderful evening meal, as well as we get to enjoy the outdoors. We will NEVER take the life of one of God’s creatures unless we plan on receiving the nourishment that was intended.” Then this very stern and different expression came over his face. “You kill it-You eat it-very simple.”

“Yes Papaw,” I said, thinking that I understood what he was talking about. I really didn’t, but that started me on the path that to this day is still very dear and precious to my thinking and my beliefs.

I continued on with all the things that 5-year olds do and I grew a few years older. My Grandfather was always there for me to help me and give them little talks whenever he knew that I needed them. We continued to enjoy squirrel potpies, rabbit stew and an occasional wonderful venison steak.

I reached the ripe and knowledgeable age of 13 in 1966. Plans were made and Papaw was taking me on a deer hunt. “DEER Grandpa?” I asked.

“Yep---Its time you learned how to provide for a family in later years.”

I remember the night before as if it were yesterday. Grandpa had taught me to shoot the big gun (Winchester 94) and I had been able to hit the target every time. I’m sure that after wiping the gun down--and giving it its fourth or fifth cleaning--I was ready.

Grandpa had built me a house out in the field with hay bales. I remember walking out into the field way before the sun came up and sitting down on the ground and waiting. I remembered all kinds of things that Grandpa had told me over the years and the wonderful things that he held so close and so dear to his heart. As I sat there waiting for daylight, I felt something hitting me on the head. Raindrops. It was raining and there I sat out in this field waiting for daylight to come. Grandpa had given me a backpack with all the things in it that I would need for my first hunting trip for deer. As I opened it and started digging for a flashlight, I felt his old worn raincoat with my fingers. I took the raincoat out of the backpack and put it on for protection from the rain. I had no sooner gotten the coat on then it really started to rain. I sat there and shivered and wondered why I was doing this. Then for some very strange reason a thought came into my 13 year old head. “You Kill It-You Eat It”. To this day I don’t know why that came tromping into my head, but at the very moment, as the sky was getting brighter, I saw the largest and most beautiful deer walking along the tree line to my right. Grandpa had known just where to build my house and just when I should be there.

I really don’t remember much of what happened for the next several minutes. Tons of emotions came erupting into my head and into my heart. I remember putting a cartridge into the rifle, cocking the firearm, and then taking the safety off after I had taken careful aim. I remember the big explosion and seeing the fire come out of the end of the rifle. I remember watching the deer fall-dead. I guess I was still sitting there when Grandpa came from the farmhouse into the field. He had heard the shot and wanted to know if we would be saying grace over an evening meal of venison. But the thing that rushed into my head was the rain---it had stopped and the sun was coming out.

That was the brightest and the most wonderful rainbow that I had ever seen. I remember seeing the rainbow reaching across the sky, and the end touching the treetops right above our supper.

Thank You Grandpa.

Dedicated to:
Henry “Red” Epard
1891-1968