Jack Rabbit June
June 2006
June was my first month away from the job at Texas Tech. I loved my time with the grandkids but also really missed my friends and colleagues and the job at Tech.
My Dad's window at Covenant hospital looked out on the grounds around Texas Tech's Credit Union. Mom, Dad and I enjoyed watching and counting the jack rabbits on the grounds. Day one we counted 13. On the second and third days I visited the count was above 20. I couldn't stand it. I had to see them up close and personal. So one evening just before dusk I drove across 19th Street and slowly cruised down the deserted streets around the credit union. Jack rabbits were everywhere. Some would just hunker down, their whiskey brown eyes bulging, as the car idled past.
Seeing the mangy looking creatures up close reminded me of visits to Gail when I was a kid. Gail is a tiny town in Borden county, population maybe a couple of hundred. Big Daddy lived in a big old two story house just outside of town. He ranched and farmed a bit and barely survived but loved his land. We went riding around the ranch in his old pickup every time we visited. On one visit the grown-ups also hunted jack rabbits. Us kids all piled in the back of the truck. Big Daddy was driving and my Mom and her brother (or was it my Aunt?) rode up front. They had a 22 rifle. One of the folks would whistle really loud...the kind of whistle I've never mastered...when they saw a jack rabbit on the move. The old jack rabbit would stop in his tracks, twist his long muley ears around, listening. And then the shot would ring out and the rabbit would usually hop, spin, run a ways and die. The folks went and picked up one of the dead jack rabbits and tossed it into the back of the pickup with us kids. Up until then it had been a fine sport. But seeing the blood and mustardy yellow entrails spilling into the pickup bed pretty much ended the fun for me.
On my drive by the credit union, the only shooting I did was with a camera. I wish I was a better photographer or that I'd had a better camera. But I am glad I captured a few images.
Dad was in the hospital for just over 3 weeks. His first few days were idle days, time needed to take him off his coumadin so that he could have surgery. He had a shunt put into his brain that will drain excess fluid away. This was done in attempt to help the condition, likely NPH, that has plagued him for the past 3 years. He has had severe weakness, dizzy spells, falls, shuffling gait, and problems with thinking and remembering things. After the surgery he spent just over two weeks on the 4th floor west rehab. The staff there, particularly the OT and PT folks, were wonderful. I believe that even if the surgery didn't improve Dad's condition, and the surgeon only gave us 50/50 odds, then certainly the intensive therapy gave Dad more strength and stamina. Unfortunately, we could not see the jack rabbits from his window in rehab.
June was my first month away from the job at Texas Tech. I loved my time with the grandkids but also really missed my friends and colleagues and the job at Tech.
My Dad's window at Covenant hospital looked out on the grounds around Texas Tech's Credit Union. Mom, Dad and I enjoyed watching and counting the jack rabbits on the grounds. Day one we counted 13. On the second and third days I visited the count was above 20. I couldn't stand it. I had to see them up close and personal. So one evening just before dusk I drove across 19th Street and slowly cruised down the deserted streets around the credit union. Jack rabbits were everywhere. Some would just hunker down, their whiskey brown eyes bulging, as the car idled past.
Seeing the mangy looking creatures up close reminded me of visits to Gail when I was a kid. Gail is a tiny town in Borden county, population maybe a couple of hundred. Big Daddy lived in a big old two story house just outside of town. He ranched and farmed a bit and barely survived but loved his land. We went riding around the ranch in his old pickup every time we visited. On one visit the grown-ups also hunted jack rabbits. Us kids all piled in the back of the truck. Big Daddy was driving and my Mom and her brother (or was it my Aunt?) rode up front. They had a 22 rifle. One of the folks would whistle really loud...the kind of whistle I've never mastered...when they saw a jack rabbit on the move. The old jack rabbit would stop in his tracks, twist his long muley ears around, listening. And then the shot would ring out and the rabbit would usually hop, spin, run a ways and die. The folks went and picked up one of the dead jack rabbits and tossed it into the back of the pickup with us kids. Up until then it had been a fine sport. But seeing the blood and mustardy yellow entrails spilling into the pickup bed pretty much ended the fun for me.
On my drive by the credit union, the only shooting I did was with a camera. I wish I was a better photographer or that I'd had a better camera. But I am glad I captured a few images.
Dad was in the hospital for just over 3 weeks. His first few days were idle days, time needed to take him off his coumadin so that he could have surgery. He had a shunt put into his brain that will drain excess fluid away. This was done in attempt to help the condition, likely NPH, that has plagued him for the past 3 years. He has had severe weakness, dizzy spells, falls, shuffling gait, and problems with thinking and remembering things. After the surgery he spent just over two weeks on the 4th floor west rehab. The staff there, particularly the OT and PT folks, were wonderful. I believe that even if the surgery didn't improve Dad's condition, and the surgeon only gave us 50/50 odds, then certainly the intensive therapy gave Dad more strength and stamina. Unfortunately, we could not see the jack rabbits from his window in rehab.
Dad is home now and has had one minor fall but seems to be doing some better. I remain hopeful that his condition will improve to where he can be more active and self-sufficient and happy.
posted by Mary @ 8:13 PM
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