September 2024 Edition | Page 10

Gaël Gary-Antonides is shown with author , Grandpa Bill . Gaël is the son of Bill ’ s daughter Jennifer Antonides . They spent a couple days collecting plant and insect samples , shooting Gaël ’ s new rubber band gun , and riding the range on a 4-wheeler . ( No , Gaël didn ’ t get to jump on the 4-wheeler and ride off into the sunset ! He is , however , learning the sun always sets in the west .) Photos by Jennifer Antonides .

Through the eyes of a child

Bill Antonides
Youth will learn from us whether we ’ re teaching them or not
I most appreciate September as the harbinger of fall , which I truly love . September tells us the year will keep its promise of good things to come for all

“ sportsmen and women . For hunters , fishers or nature lovers who thrill in the sight and sounds

Life is tough enough without being ignorant . The cure for ignorance is education . Take a child afield and teach what you know , and learn together , as best as you are able , what you do not .”
of Autumn , September portends the most spectacular time of year .
Technically , Autumn runs from September 22 to December 21 this year , but the calendar is little more than an estimate of what weather to expect . By midto-late September , the non-stop blistering hot days of July and August are gone . Chances are good the car heater needs to be on in the morning and switched to air conditioning in the afternoon , but the most important point is neither the chill nor the heat are relentless . A light jacket worn at appropriate times will get you through the day .
Perhaps an appropriate metaphor is the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn are similar to a person who first drives a stickshift pickup . Starts and stops are jerky as gears are shifted , and if the driver isn ’ t careful , the vehicle may occasionally be slipped into reverse .
Autumn reminds us another dreaded winter
Page 10 , Dakota Country , September 2024 www . dakotacountrymagazine . com