Geez Louise!

The only thing that frightens me about your story is that it's one
that
I'd be writing myself in the near future.  Ex-vegan--3 1/2 years
(still
recovering/dealing with resulting health issues); Ex-vet tech; haven't
butchered any carcasses yet, but I plan to if the opportunity arises;
appreciate the critters whose lives become part of mine; am into
descriptive writing, nature themes--non-fiction and fiction (very nice
job you did on this story, by the way).

Just had to comment, 'cause I thought I time-travelled into the future
and was reading my own story!

Lois

> I am a reformed vegetarian, who after serious ill health, realized eating
> meat saved me. I have been an unashamed carnivore ever since (15 yrs). I
> have extolled the virtue of eating meat to any one who will listen. I eat a
> lot of meat, and organs, often raw.
>
> However, I am now facing a crisis of wimposity.
>
> Yesterday, I became the proud owner of two recently killed elk heads. A doe
> and a buck. Very large. They were given to me by hunters dressing the kill.
> Although they questioned my usage (I said "I have dogs")  and  I did hear a
> mumbled reference to "satanic ritual",  they happily gave them to me -
> proud that "nothing went to waste".
>
> My plan was to extract the tongue and the brains.
>
> I took my heads home with me and spread out some newspaper and plastic
> garbage bags out in my back yard. My dogs prowled the perimeter lifting
> their lips and growling and snarling at our cats- who were very curious.
>
> I took out the doe head out of the bag and was surprised at the suppleness
> in her fur. She was beautiful! She felt alive. Just like in a petting zoo.
> Her muzzle was soft. I petted her for a while. Her ears were furry and felt
> a lot like my dogs. I opened her mouth and saw there was still grass on her
> tongue. I pulled it out to see it and heard a gasping noise come from her
> throat. I almost jumped out of my skin, and found myself apologizing to
> her. I remembered the Native American tradition, (my grandmother is
> Cherokee) and thanked her for giving herself to us. I felt better after
> that - acknowledging the sacrafice.
>
> (Let me just mention briefly here that I was raised a "city kid" and have
> no exposure to hunting in my background).
>
> I did not have a clue what to do next, hoping some natural instinct would
> kick in.No way could I take my hatchet and whack her between the eyes.
>
> I hadn't anticipated such a reaction in myself. I have always contended
> that in another place and time I would have been a good hunter.  I am not
> given to squeamishness. Blood doesn't bother me at all (I used to be a Vet
> Tech). I have no intellectual misgivings that it is "wrong" to kill animals
> for food.
>
> Anyway , I set her aside and pulled the buck's head from the bag.
>
> The hunters had taken the antlers and the eyes were gone. That helped. The
> brain was exposed and I was able to scoop it out. I regulrly eat cow brain,
> so I could make the transition from "Bambi"  to "this is meat". Soon, I was
> digging out the tongue< managed to saw it loose from the jaw>
> i then took out the doe head< And usiNG What i learned < was able to get
> the tOngue out> i tried to get through the brain thRough ThE bottom (near
> where the tongue was attatched< but i brOkE toO much bone- SHATTERED IT
> INTO A GAZiLLoin shards>
> mY APOLOGIES- MY COMPYTER IS GIONG BONKErS ON ME> PLEASE HANG IN THERE.
>
> MY BUTCHER< WHO IS MY GOOD BUD< SAID IT WAS NORMAL TO BE A BIT FReAKED OUT
> AT FIRsT AND "IT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO"
> I tHiNk I wiLl coNtInue afTeR I GET My COMPUTER FIXED>
>
> To be continued...
>