BLAZE Magazine Special Edition 2006-2016 | Page 13

By Rebecca Wood, Founder
Outdoor Women Unlimited
W
hen I think back to the first time
I had my first conversation with
Bobbie Jo Wallace Parsons, I
still pinch myself. To be in the
presence of a “Lady Hunter”, whose mother
and father served as governors in my home
state of Alabama, would be the memory of
a lifetime.
Sharing my story of how it all came to be is
an encouragement to never walk away from
a dream; just make a detour.
In 2005, after attending a special evening
at Five Star Plantation, a hunting preserve,
located in Kellyton, Alabama, a mutual
friend of Bobbie Jo and her husband, Jim
Parsons, contacted me. He shared that the
festive occasion was to honor Bobbie Jo
on the release of her book, A Little Bit Of
Magic-A Journal of a Lady Hunter. Her book
is a journal of her hunts with Jim across
Africa and North America. He had Bobbie
Jo sign one of her books dedicated to me
with her telephone number! He told me to
call her. And I did.
With a shaking hand, I punched the
numbers into my cellular phone. When
Bobbie Jo answered my call, I immediately
regained my composure (thank goodness
she could not see me) and relaxed to her
soft spoken “southern lady tone.” Her charm
and grace were recognized even without
her physical presence. She was extremely
complimentary to my efforts and expressed
interest in meeting for lunch.
My lunch date with Bobbie Jo and Jim
Parsons was like no other meeting. Their
charm and hospitality are mesmerizing. She
shared how mentoring through education
provides the first step for women. Both
Jim and Bobbie Jo were excited they were
to learn that Outdoor Women Unlimited’s
infrastructure included a diverse venue
of opportunity for women to learn and
advance in outdoor styles and activities.
As we continued to learn more about one
another, I soon realized on our first meeting
it was as though we had known each other
forever. She captivated my interest as she
expounded on mentoring. She said, “Over
the years, I have reflected upon memories
realizing that my love for the outdoor
challenge has long been a part of who I
am. However, I needed the right person to
foster my desire and challenge my goals.
Through Jim’s encouragement, patience,
knowledge; my passion for hunting and
shooting sports exploded.” In my thoughts,
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I knew I had found my mentors! Jim and
Bobbie Jo were just like me.
Jim and Bobbie Jo hosted our first OWU
“South Oak” Shooting Clinic. Little did we
know that it would be a Cinderella weekend
for eight OWU ladies. The simple, elegant
style of gracious hospitality was present
the moment we arrived to their home at
South Oak. Their love for Africa was never
a question. The décor included the wildlife
harvested through out their hunting travels
across Africa and North America. The
harvest of each was displayed with respect,
honor and grace.
2007-2011, were years of amazing memories
with Bobbie Jo and Jim. South Oak was
the site for four Outdoor Women Unlimited
outdoor education events for our members.
With professional instruction coupled with
years of experience in the field captured
the essence of the OWU mission and vision.
As Bobbie Jo shared so many times, “love
your family and friends, stay safe; have fun
and make memories.” And that we did.
When I think back over the lessons learned
from my many days spent with Bobbie Jo
Parsons, one poem comes to my mind more
often than none.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And touched down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~ Robert Frost ~
SPECIAL EDITION 2006-2016 |
| 13