Thank you for all the kind words Folks, I sure appreciate it.
Ted...
None of us ever know. Seasons spent afield are clearly finite. I don't think anyone fully considers their increasing fragility until they realize that they're done. The ability to cover ground efficiently and then be effective in your weapon of choice are the barriers, and at some point you simply can't get over them. The physical limitations stack up to where a point of no-return is reached.
The irony of last night was that it was our Christmas game dinner (featuring grouse, elk and walleye offerings) something that my wife and I do for old hunting and fishing friends. I toughed it out so I could participate before finally heading off to hospital. I didn't want to miss it for essentially the same reason....you never know.
