In the fall, it's first things first

"Only 10 more days, Mom," Jeremy informed me the other day.

I must say I was a little disappointed. According to my calender, it was only six days till school started.

I decided to argue the point with him.

"It's only six days," I replied patiently.

"No," he informed me. "It's 10 days."

I knew I was right. Like most parents, I've been in the countdown mode for the last month.

"Jeremy," I replied -- patiently of course -- "School starts on the 28th. You have six more days."

"Not school," he retorted, obviously not getting the virtue of patience from my side of the family, "dove season."

My excitement over school starting was suddenly dampened by the idea of sitting in the hot sun by a pond waiting for birds measuring six inches in length to fly over in order for me to take my .20- gauge shot gun and shoot holes in the sky.

I got on to the Nebraska Game and Parks Web site. Sure enough, dove season starts Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 30. I can waste at least a case of shells during that time. Of course pheasant season starts a little early this year -- Oct. 28 through Jan. 31-- so for two days during October we can carry two different kinds of shells with us and I can shoot two cases worth of holes in the sky.

Deer season runs from Nov. 11 -- 19, which means that for eight days we'll be carrying three shot guns and two rifles with shells to match and during the muzzleloader season we'll have three shotguns, three muzzleoaders and possibly three rifles -- if we go for season choice deer permits.

We still have half a deer and a quarter of an antelope in the freezer from last year. If I'm not mistaken I think I came across a couple of rabbits when I was looking for my frozen peas. It may be time to get out the meat slicer, the meat grinder and the mixes I bought at Cabella's and get busy getting rid of last year's hunting proceeds, because it seems the whole routine is about to start over again. I guess you could call it my "Groundhog Day."

In the meantime I can comfort myself in knowing that there are only four more days until school starts.

I know it's not a proper way for a mother to feel. But if my son is going to torture me with the idea of hunting for the next five months, I can torture him with the idea of school for the next nine.