Killing animals isn’t healing
I’m writing regarding the “Warrior Hunts help heal invisible wounds” article (November 2017). They put on a military uniform and are subjected to the horrors of war, and then kill innocent animals as therapy? If they were shooting the animals with cameras, I would agree it is MOST EXCELLENT therapy due to being in wonderful nature. However, my gut feeling is that making sport of killing is not healthy human behavior for veterans or anyone else.
My gut feeling is also that it is not the killing of innocent animals that is healing, but the camaraderie in gathering with fellow veterans. There is apparently a monetary benefit for promoters of Warrior Hunts, which appears to me is cloaked as gathering for the camaraderie with fellow warriors. Drawing first blood from the slaughter of quail and pheasants is camaraderie? There are numerous therapy programs that don’t involve the taking of a life which veterans could benefit from; such as horse therapy (operationwearehere.com/EquineTherapy.html), helping at animal shelters, taking therapy dogs to Veterans Hospitals (operationwearehere.com/Volunteer.html), volunteering for Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/veterans-build) and Healing Arts (operationwearehere.com/ArtTherapy.html), to list only a few.
Kathryn Dalenberg, Valley Head
Enjoyed ‘Got mullet’ column
Good one (“Got mullet?” November 2017). We have always had a cast net and gill net here. When they tried to do away with the recreational nets, I fought hard to keep them. We are grandfathered in to have a 300-foot net. I buy a license for myself, husband, and both my sons every year. Of course, when we die it cannot be handed down.
Mullet are the best, but you must eat them quickly, and they do not freeze well. A three-day old mullet is too old. If you are served one, and it does not curl, it is too old! Setting the gill net with grandkids is my favorite past time, even on Mother’s Day.
Margaret Long, Orange Beach
P.S. I know several who forgot to let the net release out of their teeth.
I just had a good laugh reading your article ‘Got mullet.’ It brought back memories of something that happened to my grandmother years ago. Grandmother also wore dentures but they were the ones from a doctor, the kind that cost a lot of money. Especially for some old farmers.
One morning Grandmother got up and went to the cup in the kitchen for her teeth. No teeth! She looked everywhere and then she and Granddaddy looked everywhere. Still no teeth! So Granddaddy had to buy Grandmother another pair of teeth. He was not happy at all.
One day later on, Grandmother noticed that one of her flowers in the window had died. She went over to get the pot to carry it outside and what did she find …. her teeth! She was glad to find her old teeth but my granddaddy was still very unhappy. She was very careful from then on about watering her flowers. I really enjoy your articles. I hope this has brought a smile to your face like your writing has brought to mine.
Patsy Lazenby Spivey, Eclectic
Closer to home
I love Alabama Living Magazine! My family is from Lafayette and sometimes all I need to feel closer to the place where I spent many summers is this 48-page mailer. Recipes, pictures, and stories of everything small-town (ok, and yes, the info on energy efficiency) make my day. Until my next visit, I’ll imagine the lightning bugs and read the piece titled “Honoring Veterans” on page 12.
Shannon McClendon-Robinson
San Diego, California
