The just completed Wolverine licensed trial held near Hastings, Michigan brought to mind a subject I have an interest in. Why not schedule our field trials on days other than Sundays so that Sunday can be used as a family day? The Wolverine trial always begins on Wednesday and ends on Saturday. This leaves Wolverine beaglers with Sunday open for church and family activities or other interests. Maybe the beaglers at Wolverine have a great idea.
For many in the beagling fraternity Sunday is a day reserved for rest and relaxation. Especially on the Sundays when trial activities are not scheduled. Many beaglers attend church services. Lots of times on Sunday afternoon our children and grandchildren visit. For retirees every day is just about the same. In fact it is said that you have settled into retirement when you get up in the morning and dont have any idea what day it is. After all it really doesnt matter anyway.
But for many of the younger generation it is different. Many wives and husbands have to work in order to make ends meet. Sometimes Sunday is the only time they have to visit their parents and lots of Sundays ol Papa is out at the beagle club running dogs in a trial.
That goes for me also. I belong to three beagle clubs here in central Michigan and all three of them hold both licensed and sanction trials on Sundays Now if I attended all the Sunday functions I would be tied up nearly three Sundays a month for most of the year. That is with the exception of winter when trials here in Michigan are not held during January and February.
Now Im not pointing a finger at anyone. After all when you point a finger at someone three fingers are pointing right back toward yourself. I am just as guilty as anyone because I have attended lots of Sunday trials during my better than 35 years in the sport. However, when I really feel good about myself is when I get up on Sunday and go to church and then spend the rest of the day with my family.
This is just a thought. I dont plan on starting a no trials on Sunday revolution. I realize that our culture has changed throughout my lifetime. Sunday in most parts of the country is now considered just like any other day of the week. It was not so in the days of my youth. Many times you couldnt even buy a quart of milk on Sunday without hunting far and wide for a store that was opened. You also couldnt date a check on Sunday because it was not legal. Maybe Im nostalgic about the past. But its something for all of us to think about in the days and months ahead as we plan our 2004 trial schedules.
