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Crystal and her husband, Adam, are from Lake Park, Iowa. |
From cosmetics to camouflage
My husband, Adam, liked to hunt. I did not. He usually went alone, leaving me at home, with my hobbies, many long weekends. I couldn't see what the big deal was about turkeys. I like music, reading, writing and art. I am a cosmetologist with a passion for fashion, which includes wearing jewelry, high heels and full make-up every single day. (And I don't mean camo face paint.)
There was a concert I wanted to attend, and I
mentioned that I would like for him to go with me.
"I'll tell you what; I'll go to this concert with you if you go turkey hunting with me," he smirked. He thought he had me, but he was wrong. I was going to hunt with him and he was going to the concert with me. And that is how I got myself roped into the sport of the big beautiful birds.
So we began preparing for the next turkey season.
Adam made sure I was geared up with camouflage clothing and a gun. He also made sure I had plenty of target lessons. I've seen turkeys before. Adam has bagged a few birds, and I've even seen some walking on the side of the road. But none of that prepared me for what I would experience my first day on the hunt.
We were sitting in the blind as two beautiful jakes came sauntering in with their egos emanating from their forms. Their bluish white, almost glowing, heads bobbed to and fro, and their big, brown bodies were puffed up, beards hanging down. One bird was a little larger than the other. The larger one had his tail feathers fanned out like a perfect corona framing his countenance. My heart began to pound.
One stayed in full strut while the other would fan his feathers up and down. One would jaunt up a couple of steps and then the other would follow. They continued to leapfrog, making it difficult for me to keep track of which was which.
My heart was pumping so loud that I could hardly hear Adam whisper, "If you've got a shot, take it!" I did not feel confident that I had a clear shot at the larger one. I was embarrassed by the betrayal of my body at that moment. I thought for sure the turkeys themselves could hear the blood pulsating in my veins.
The turkeys walked out of my sight. Adam carefully unzipped another window in our blind. I leaned over and took aim. Trying to zero in on the best one, I couldn't tell which one was bigger. All of my senses disappeared with the persistent beats of my heart.
I was blind to everything but that blue head. I pulled the trigger and blinked. When I opened my eyes again I saw feathers in the air and a turkey on the ground.
I could tell Adam was proud of me. However, he does like to tease me by claiming that I let the big one get away. It does not matter to me which one I bagged. What does matter is the fact that, thanks to my husband, I had a wonderful experience and can now add turkey hunting to my list of "things I like."
Now I have to take my husband to a concert and try to show him a good time. I know that nothing could possibly beat the experience he gave me.
I think he knew that all along.
— Crystal Cross
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