Gallery: Matt and Vern Smith, son and father, take to the blind on opening day
MIDLAND COUNTY, MI - Thirty-three years ago, Vern Smith took his son out to the field for his first day of firearms deer hunting season. On opening day this year, Matt Smith now leads his father to hunt on their centennial farm in Midland County.
Following a morning of working with clients at the gym, heading to the real estate office and teaching "Perform" classes at Meridian High School, Matt Smith made his way to Colonial Villa to pick up his father, Vern Smith.
Ten years ago, Vern Smith was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Although he is 74 years old, "He has the mental and physical condition of someone 10 years older" Matt Smith said. His mother was the primary caretaker for most of that time, but when she died last year, Matt Smith and his sister were suddenly faced with the task of caring for him.
After placing his father in an assisted living home, Matt had to become a dad to his own father. He tries to take him out for activities and hunting when he can, but at the rate of his father's deterioration, he says he thinks this might be the last year.
"I'd love to say we could squeeze out one more year, but that might not be possible," Matt Smith said. "My goal is to get him out as many times this year as I can."
Matt holds a monopod for Vern while Vern practices holding the scope up to his face and bracing the rifle - Vern has Parkinson's disease and it can make holding the rifle steady difficult. Matt Smith takes his father, Vern, out hunting on the first day of deer firearm season on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Henry Taylor | MLive | The Saginaw News
After an afternoon of sitting in the blind, chatting about hunting, lifestyle and getting his dad ready for a potential shot, two deer walked gently into a clearing to the left. Matt quickly hushed his father, who had a napkin out wiping his nose, and judged the size of the deer - noting they were just fawns. They kept their rifles down and movement to a minimum, waiting to see if a more mature deer would emerge.
After nearly 20 minutes and a couple close calls, the deer ran off. Soon after, Matt and Vern called it quits, with just enough light left in the day to get out of the blind.
"Big steps. Come on, take that hand and get it on my arm. Let go of that tree - that tree's holding you back. Let go of the tree, get it up here on my arm," Matt Smith said as his father maneuvered with a walker. "There. Now, come right to me. Come right to me, come on. Big steps, Dad, you're shufflin'."
"Big steps," Matt whispered. "Big steps, big steps."
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2017/11/after_33_years_son_takes_over.html
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