Ed,

What a fine, loving tribute to your father.  I could see how proud he was of you at your retirement luncheon.  He will be with you forever in spirit.  You have a lifetime of wonderful memories to look back on.

Cindi

Dad always loved our annual deer hunting trips to Maine. I looked forward to them all year long and I asked him the other day and told me he did too. Some years there would be other family and friends along on the hunt but most times it was just him and I. We would spend the week hunting, talking about life and enjoying each others company. He had instilled a love for the outdoors in me early in my life and took me with him everywhere he went. I always seemed  lucky enough to get a deer but dad didnt. Looking back now  I am sure that was not why he went. He enjoyed sharing in my life and success and was just happy to be along. We would see moose, bears and much more wildlife and Dad always enjoyed sharing his lunch with the local Canada Jays. He could sit still enough to get them to sit on his knee and take a piece of bread. Then one year while sitting in the woods I heard a distant shot in the direction of Dad. I found him with a beautiful big 8 pt. buck that he had taken. The biggest deer of his life. He was so proud and it was actually ended up being the biggest deer taken at the lodge that year. The antlers have proudly hung in his house ever since and will hang in my house in Maine forever more. It was those first trips to Maine that he took me on that developed in me my passion for the woods and waters of Maine. He could not accompany me last year for my hunt but I knew he was with me in spirit. He waited anxiously for me to return and relay my stories to him. He was planning on a trip this fall up to Maine to see the place that we had recently purchased. Unfortunately he never got that oppurtunity. The woods will seem a little more empty in the fututre but I know that a little bit of Dad goes with me now wherever I go.