Pleasant Pheasants

My first encounter with finding a pheasant in a Golden Rod laced field was with my grandfather. Walking and talking behind the wooded lot of Maple Grove swimming pool (early 1980s), he heard the call of the bird. The sound made him flashback to a time in his life, youth and canvassing fields for pheasants. As my maturity hopefully manifests further, I find the pheasant appealing as a symbol of style, stature, gentlemanly in its presentation. I find the bird to be a model for GQ, an example in Esquire, a front cover photo on Men's Health magazine. Like being hunted by a dapper dressed hunter, red and black checked flannel, flask in pocket, Timberland boots, Winchesters and shells, respectfully harvested. Elusively escaping to the countryside more for the comradery. Stately, healthy, cognitive of its pheasantly appearance. With a prominent aire of accountability and accuracy across its wings. And the flashback, of a hunting camp of some variety. A place I have found up along Otter Run of northern PA adorned with the epitomes of the pheasant. I create my vision of reminiscing with my Pap and talk of the times in the 1940s and 1950s when World War II was on and he was up against serving his duty on a destroyer in the United States Navy. I would love to sit stoveside and chat as the pheasants chatter all along the ridge top and down through the hollow. Holed up along the creek, firepit and beers blazing into the moonlit hours. Cards, comradery, convo, empty cans. Shout out to my friend Dave and Big Poppa for giving me the opportunity to sit next to the coal stove @ the cabin and fuel my reflections and introspections about my grandfather. USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103)