ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997 TAG: 9701170059
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY COWLEY
YES, POOR judgment may have been exercised in the decision for three adult men and two boys - loaded down with shotguns, ammunition, duck decoys and heavy hunting gear - to get into a 17-foot boat off the coast of North Carolina on Jan. 11, in frigid weather with icy cold waters about, and go duck hunting (Jan. 13 Associated Press news article, ``Man survives 14 hours in frigid water; 3 dead'').
Do not let the subsequent, devastating tragedy blind our eyes to the intent of fathers wanting to spend time with their sons as the boys (ages 6 and 8 in this case) begin their long trek of growing up and becoming young men.
When I think of times spent alone with my own father, the first thoughts are always those of the two of us duck hunting together, which in Louisiana was certainly not an uncommon recreational experience. Having my father all to myself in a boat or a duck blind, to talk with, listen to his stories and observe how he acted in certain situations, wasn't only a great joy at the time but has become a lesson by example throughout all of my own life.
As a teen-ager, I remember on a cold, winter morning heading out to a duck blind with my father in a boat loaded with duck decoys wrapped in long strings and weights. When I rocked the boat, I got an immediate stern warning: not to rock the boat unless I wanted to join the lake with all those decoys and strings!
In his anger, he called me ``sweetheart.'' Even as a teen-ager decked out in serious hunting paraphernalia, that created a warm glow within me and indirectly told me that I was loved, cared about and had enough value that my father would want to spend time on a one-to-one basis with me on a cold Saturday morning.
I have two grown sons of whom I am very proud. Invariably when we get together, duck-hunting stories frequently surface. And I am made acutely aware that their feelings regarding the father-son relationship are really not that much unlike my own.
The effort that Michael Labounty and Johnny Melson as fathers, with the help of Philip Boedker, the senior member of the group, were trying to make with the two young sons - by taking them out on a Saturday morning, and spending time with them in an attempt to teach and share life experiences in a loving and caring sort of way - should be an example in this day and age for all fathers.
Larry Cowley, of Blacksburg, is an ear, nose and throat doctor.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB