Occasionally in life the good Lord places individuals in your pathway whom brings happiness and joy. Through this site I’ve had the pleasure of adding many such individuals from the State of Mississippi to this list. One of those was Don Fields. It is with sad heart that I received notification last night from the family that Don is sitting at the Lords table in heaven.
Since our first meeting at Crankest, over the smell of charcoal burning being prepared for fueling the cast iron ovens, we have become true buddies. At that initial meetings we shared our love for cast iron/dutch oven cooking and cast iron cookware. The sharing of favorite recipes were exchanged and we learned tips and tricks from each other. Don later shared with me that he was leary of me being able to pile taters two foot high in a skillet and cook it all down but had to admit that this young guy could cook. Well old buddy, you can too. I will miss your baked beans the most but your cobblers were mighty fine too.
At that first meeting we discovered we also enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, shooting, and reloading. I also became aware of his deep love for the Land Between the Lakes area and the amount of time he spent exploring its forrest and fields as a young man. After returning home after that event, the next day my phone alerted to a new text message. It was Don talking about a new firearm being released. That text was the beginning of regular weekly exchanges about everything under the sun. Soon the days clicked by with the upcoming Crankfest appearing on the calendars horizon. I received a text from Don about sharing a boat fishing while I was attending the event. A day was selected and the place, time, and other details were plainly giving in exact detail from Don as only he could give. rotfl
Upon arriving, Don exited his truck and we prepared the boat for the days outing. It soon was becoming obvious that we shared the same ideas of how a cranking boat needed to be arranged. It was uncanny how much we were alike and similar in our ways of thinking. Eventually our wives would only roll their eyes with this every expanding knowledge. We had a good trip and was the beginning of many future great outings.
However, this years communication brought a feeling that he was not doing well. He still was the old Don but a tiredness/weariness could be felt in our exchanges. The years first fishing trip together was canceled due to the Covid mess but the followup to reschedule it kept be pushed forward. Tim was very gracious and patient with us on this scheduling and to you Tim, I am grateful.
The next scheduled fishing opportunity was while I was down with some church friends for a few days. His excited texts about sharing a boat with me soon transformed into his not feeling well and could not fish. I left Mississippi with a feeling something wasn’t going well at all with my friend. But we soon were exchanging plans to spend this years Crankfest together in his camper on his favorite spot at the Enid campground. For those who might be unaware, it was the spot he and his dad always used. Don had a lot of memories at that spot. As the time drew near, the camping plans changed to a cabin rental due to his health and as the days drew near the text came that he just could not make it. My previous bad feelings just transformed into dreadful fears.
While the days at the cabin was fun fishing and I enjoyed being with my Kentucky and Mississippi buddies, my mind stayed on Don. I kept him informed with texts and pics of my activities hoping it was giving him pleasure. That Sunday I received a text stating that if I could get him in the boat he wanted to come down and fish the next morning. I fired back to come on. Again the time, place, and meeting procedure were laid out by Don. lol. You just had to love the guy. :Rofl
In the pre dawn darkness, while getting the Wareagle ready in the parking lot at Billy Creek on Enid, I sent up a prayer for God to give us a good day. In a few minutes the sounds of Don’s Ford pickup approaching the ramp area become louder until I could see his smiling face leaning out the window. As he exited the truck my heart fell at the loss of weight I observed and felt his bones just under the clothes as I gave him a hug. It took a step ladder, several minutes, and many Don directives to get him in the boat, but soon we were launched and floating.
God does answer prayers! He gave us a glorious sunrise and soon we had the skunk off the boat with Don catching the first fish, a small bass. I took a quick picture with the phone as we finished putting out rods and lines. After several hours of fishing and catching fish, Don signaled he had reached his physical limit. As we were leaving he asked for us to take a quick spin up and down the lake. We finished the day at the cabin and he even spent the night. The next morning was spent drinking coffee and talking. He didn’t have the energy to get back in the boat. I told him to text me when he got home to make sure he arrived.
After returning home, we continued to talk but I could feel in his voice something wasn’t right. Last week’s text from Don turned this feeling into reality by stating that he was being admitted into hospice and to contact Eilene. Again I petitioned God to allow him to hold on until I could arrive. Again God answered prayers! I spent the past weekend with Don at the hospice center but had to return home to Kentucky Sunday afternoon.
After receiving last nights notification, my thoughts have been on Don. I am truly appreciative of meeting him and all you Mississippi guys. For some reason each of you have treated me as if I grew up with y’all and to that I give true thanks. Don is being missed by his family and me. But I know where Don is at. You see, Don is proof, that old dogs do go to heaven. Until we meet again, tight lines, tight shot groups, and tight friendships. Love ya buddy……
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