Something to think about

[Bear Chow]

Sit back relax and enjoy a tale.

It was many years ago a group of 4x4's meet up at natural bridge to take a ride. 39" tires were huge and 33" were common. I think it was around year 2000. Seven vehicles running through some trails, and we approach a mud hole. First jeep goes through easy peasy. The second jeep blast through showering water in all directions. Then came a mighty samurai running 29" tires a new driver and a young family.

The driver's name was Brian. He was new to the group and was eager to go and to push the limits. That mud hole had other plans and stopped him dead in his tracks. Mud was slinging from the front and rear tires. The samurai dug deeper and deeper, all the while a huge smile mixed with angst and frustration grew on his face. Pushing mud forward, he went nowhere. 3 minutes passed, 5 minutes passed, 10 minutes passed. Other vehicles clawed around the bypass and drivers, co-drivers and families jumped out and watched as Brian never gave up hope.

A few instructions were hollered out. You know, the useful ones "Give it more gas!" "Turn side to side!" "Don't let that wee hole win!" Brian must have decided he was through trying. He grabbed reverse slinging that mud forward right where everyone was standing. Bodies dodged and jumped. Some succeeded, some did not. Backing out of the mud hole about 15 feet, Brian did the only thing a sane person could do.

He put it back into first gear and put the pedal to the floor. The little truck that could, it jumped up a bit and launched back into that now 3 1/2 foot deep hole. Wildly Brian turned right and left and right and left. The crowd cheered, Brian's wife screaming in his ear. If you've ridden in a samurai you know, it's awfully close quarters. Jeannie Screaming "GO GO GO GO GOOO" with a huge smile on her face.

In the backseat strapped down tight a 1 year boy tucked deep into car seat was zonked out and missing this excitement. That samurai caught some traction lifting the left side and then the right. The rear pumpkin struck the bank and pop. The vehicle was free and now sat ten feet in front of that obstacle. Brian and Jeannie jumped out of the vehicle excited and happy. That feeling when adrenalin is running and you just know you can conquer anything. That feeling that no mountain is too high and no hole is to deep.

Yes the baby woke, and the family celebrated.


Brian and I saw each other from time to time off-roading. A few years later we spoke at a Christmas party. Brian had cancer; it was a somber discussion while his son Tyler and my children Shelby, Jared and Fred rolled around on the ground and played. Like that mud hole he was going to take this as just another difficult challenge he was going to win and had already returned back to work a testament to his strength.

Even more time later around 2006 my son Jared joined boy scouts. Low and behold there was this young man I just couldn't put my finger on why or how I knew him. Several months later and I finally ran into his parents. Wow, it's amazing how people come and go and come back into ones lives. Brian and I would see each other from time to time talk about four wheeling even though neither of us had been in quite some time. Talk about how we wanted to get our children out there with us and even about concurring that mud hole of days passed.

For several years I watched Tyler grow from a young scout to a young man, with all the responsibilities of such, plus more. Brian had been dealing with additional surgeries, additional cancer and additional strife from being unable to work.

This story started out around the year 2000 and part of this story is ending soon. I have been told Brian Hitsman, once a CORE member and always a great person to be around, has decided to go to hospice, his wife Jeannie and son Tyler standing strong and unified as a family.

I told this story to the boy scouts last night, as I am now their scoutmaster. They laughed in the beginning, as I hope you did and recognized the gravity of life as I'm sure you will.

Hold close your families and friends and even those that come and go and come through your lives.

I assigned each scout and parent homework last night.
When it's dark and before your eyes close, when your mind finally finds quiet, think about someone you are thankful for if it's God, your mother or your mentor or best friend. Tomorrow when you wake let them know how thankful you are.


My thoughts and prayers go to the Hitsman family. Thank you for sharing a small part of your lives with me.