2014 proves to be a challenging year in many ways. The start of New York spring turkey season would support that thought in earnest.
In any typical season in the Joyner household, whether it be the opening of deer season, fall turkey or especially spring turkey it is normal and expected that I enjoy the opener with my beautiful bride of 14 years; Lee Joyner. Most years, most seasons it is a couples date for us.
For the past few years, Lee’s mother (affectionately known as my mother-in-law) had been battling cancer. Having beaten it twice before, she was once again in a fight of and for her life. Lee’s father, Leroy Harrison whom I have written about In a prior blog passed away just before PA deer season in 2008. In all honesty, we all felt she would soon follow as they had been married nearly 50 years and did everything together. Her personality was shy and low key. Despite this, she put in the fight of a champion and all for her love of family. Much stronger than I would have thought, much stronger than I would myself imagine being. Round three with cancer would be her final fight and she passed on April 29th. As many of you have witnessed heroic and well-fought wars with cancer, so have I, and hers was impressive in her effort and will to live. Mother-in-laws are typically the subject of much humor, but as mine, she was a great one. Much like my father-in-law.
Lee headed down the following day and I would follow several days later. The NY opener would start solo. To be truthful, I found the turkey woods to be soothing as they always do spending time in God’s creations. Just as truthful, I loathed not spending it with my wife. In our area, the birds did not cooperate. Never heard a bird gobble that morning and the highlight was bumping five hens off the roost, no suitor nearby. Even hooking up with another turkey hunter later that morning I felt uneasy, and it detracted from enjoying it as I would normally. As much as I love my time in the woods, I was not at peace there during this difficult time.
Today we laid to rest Susanne Harrison, she no longer is in pain and in our faith we believe she is in a better place.
I will return to the turkey woods soon and my thoughts of both of my in-laws will be prominent in my thoughts. For my wife, it is a passing of a generation and the baton is passed on to her and her siblings. The yearly tradition is altered for this year but will go on, and no doubt the memories of our loved ones will occupy our thoughts while resting up against a majestic maple or the aptly named monarch of a set of woods. For us, we have a twisted old tree we call the turkey tree. You’ll find us there from time to time, and hopefully in spirit when we too come to pass.
R.I.P. Susanne Harrison
© 2014 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
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