Duck Calling Contest

As most of you know, I have a HORRIBLE memory. That is one of the main reasons for this blog. I don't want to forget the special things the kids say and do throughout the years. I want to capture their experiences and the memories so that I can look back on them forever. Memories of my childhood are very few and far between. I can't remember alot but the memories I do have, are very special. Some of my favorite memories are of my dad teaching my brother and I how to blow the duck call. We would listen to duck calling tapes and go outside in the freezing cold and practice, practice, practice. Every year there was and still is a local duck calling contest held in different parts of SC. Varying age groups can compete to go to the world competition. As a young adult, dad won the local competition, the state competition and made it to the world duck calling contest. I can still remember him going around the house singing "God Bless America" because Lee Greenwood was at that competition and because he LOVES to sing. He had a photo album with all of his pictures from the contest. I remember that album was the type you put the pictures on the page and they stuck to the backing. After a few years, the backing would yellow. The pictues were covered with a clear protective sheet. Do you remember those? Dad has always been an avid outdoorsman and duck calling is one of his loves. I think it is because duck hunting was a past time that he shared with his dad and brothers. Ken and I would always compete against each other and of course he would always beat me. However, at a very early age, this taught me competition and showed me what drive was all about. I can remember being soooo determined to beat him (mostly because I was a girl)and I loved all the attention I received from being one of the only girls to blow in the tournament. If only I could have perfected the feed call, I know I could have beat Ken:-) Regardless of the competition, the time we spent together was priceless. Even today, we all still enjoy blowing and now Ken and I have passed that love to our children. Dad is a judge in the yearly local tournament along with some of his old hunting buddies and the kids have started to compete. Clay (10) has been blowing since he was probably 4-5 years old. He has won all of the competitions he has blown in. Last week was Ayden's second year blowing and he came in second (we didn't find out until 2 days before about the tournament and Ayden was sick). His first year, at 4 years old, he won. Here are some of the pictures from this years duck calling contest at Black River Marine here in Orangeburg. Ayden, Clay and some of Clay's friends had so much fun showing off their duck calling skills and watching dad (Pa) show off his.