WAPITI

I will be in ol’ Montana a week from tonight!  Excited, would be an underestimation. I’m going out with my Uncle, Wayne Tucker, for a couple weeks to hunt Elk and Mule Deer. Oh boy, oh boy, do I love the West. I can’t wait to get back out there in the wild open country that I love so much.

Here are a few Montana quotes that keep me healthy:

Oh, I'll never leave Montana, brother. –River Runs Through It

Dear Jesse, as the moon lingers a moment over the bitterroots, before its descent into the invisible, my mind is filled with song. I find I am humming softly; not to the music, but something else; some place else; a place remembered; a field of grass where no one seemed to have been; except a deer; and the memory is strengthened by the feeling of you, dancing in my awkward arms. –River Runs Through It

The world is full of bastards; the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.  –River Runs Through It

But when I’m alone in the half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's greatest flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters. –River Runs Through It

There was something in the city that he said he couldn’t breathe
And there was something in the country that he said he couldn’t leave
Oh Montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild Montana skies

                -John Denver

God made Montana for the wild man, for the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow. –Ian Tyson

Ah' when I first saw Montana I knew I would love her. I'd ride her great ranges for the rest of my days. –Ian Tyson

My name is bob fudge, I died in Montana. –Ian Tyson

Summer of George

With all my beach trips this year, I feel like I got to have the Summer of George.  Year started off great; my buddies and I all flew down from different cities (D.C., Louisville, Chattanooga) and met down in Ft. Myers for a long weekend.  There’s nothing quite as great as having friends you know will always be there for you, and friends you might not see for years at a time, but can get together and laugh as though time never skipped a beat. 

Next up was an awesome trip to Key West for one of my Sigma Nu fraternity brother’s bachelor party. I love Key West. I’ve been twice now; the first time was back in High School and I have to admit I love it more each time I visit. In high school we drove down and spent an entire week camped out on the beach on a small island and snorkeled all day long. Great trip then and was not let down one bit this second time. I love that city. I love its rich history, the locals and all the culture it has to offer. It is just a wonderful place on earth. When you’re there it hardly feels like you are even in the U.S. but a town somewhere across the Globe. When we weren’t out celebrating like we were 21, I was able to sneak off and do some solo sightseeing. I rented a scooter and was able to explore the entire island. My favorite was the home of Ernest Hemingway. His home was not only a master of art with design and building construction, but just being in the same house where he wrote some of the most wonderful works of art is a marvelous feeling. He was a remarkable man.  It is rumored I took a midnight dip in his pool, but that has not been confirmed by the local authorities.

I also spent a week with my family at Amelia Island Plantation. The Tucker’s haven’t all been under the same roof in some time, so it was great to be all together once again. I also had a few trips down to Hilton Head Island with my Chattanooga buddies. We spent the whole week of July 4^th there as well as Labor Day weekend.  I love some Hilton Head Island. . I hope to one day live at the beach for half of each year. I’d also like to spend a couple years on my boat traveling across the globe to cities all around the world.   I was quoted this past trip down as saying, “leaving the beach is worse than getting hit in the head with a hammer” and “leaving the beach is just awful, you get that awful gut wrenching feeling in your stomach when it’s about time to leave, it’s just painful, it feels like your girlfriend just broke up with you.” I love the beach to say the least and I always hate to leave.  So goodbye Summer of George, I hope next year is just as lovely.

Key West 2011

July 4th on Hilton Head Island

Amelia Isand Plantation with my Family

Labor Day Weekend on Hilton Head Island

my twain of thought is loosely bound