Yesterday evening was one of those special times, that only come once a year. Nine of us, sitting in the community room, visiting for over three and a half hours (it was only scheduled for three) with almost two dozen of our constituents.

A dull murmur of conversation the entire time, people shifting from one table to the next, or refilling on coffee.

Talk of hunting seasons, of course. That was the agenda, after all. But more of the chatter dealt with the long, long winter. Tales from other parts of the county. Folks relating hopeful signs of spring that they had seen.

And lots of questions about elk and lichen, of course. And inevitable queries about my strapped wrist.

Dinner was even better. Joining the six out-of-towners for rarely shared comraderie.

At the meeting a friend, recently retired, again extolled the wonder of his newly found free time, asking me when I would get smart and join the ranks.

To which I gave the usual reply... why?

His wife understood. Maybe she does not see his retirement as the same blessing he does.

But at dinner, I leaned back from the table and stared at my friends. At the moment sharing the stories of last fall's moose hunts.

And could think of no place I would rather be.

Dinner conversation also touched upon the difficulties of living and working one handed.

Killing elk with a handgun with a broken wrist?

Times four.

Trust me. Not recommended.

But one fellow related the story of a man he knew who had both rotator cuffs operated on at the same time. This seems to be a rite of passage for modern life, as almost all males I know have at one time or another spent weeks and weeks with an arm flung out at right angles, resting on the huge triangular pillow on their chest. Waiting for the surgery on their shoulder joint to heal.

To shorten his recovery time, this guy had had both shoulders fixed at the same time.

In a conspiratorial tone, the relater of this tale leaned in towards the center of the table and whispered, "So I asked him..."

"'How do you wipe your ass?'"

"And he answered, 'I strung a rope low between two trees, and hung a thick piece of burlap.'"

Ewww!

I mean, EWWW!

May the Powers That Be keep me from ever entering his woods...