Bud Enos – A Tribute

“If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right—the first time.”
-Bud Enos

I learned how to live from my dad.

At some point I overheard him say, “All I want to do is raise our family (four sons and one daughter) in this house, and then die in this house.” Which is what he did. 

This hangs over my dresser… Me at a happy 16, with Daddyo—father and son bowling champs!

My brother called when they got the diagnosis—he was in Ohio and I was in Arizona, with, “Get back home… dad’s in the hospital and has cancer in his whole body… He’s not going to live more than a day or two.”

He handed the phone to my dad, and with his usual calm, said, “Don’t worry, I’m going to be fine, the doctors are going to take care of me.”

They tried an experimental version of chemotherapy. He lived 10 more good years, and mowed his lawn every week. 

On his final day, my mom and dad returned from having dinner at our favorite local diner, The Mel-O-Dee. As he was struggling to walk up the steps, my mom later told me he said, “Nobody should have to live like this.” He died that night in his sleep.

After he died, I realized my dad lived like a Zen master: in a continuous state of equanimity. I never once heard him complain, nor did he ever rattle. Bud Enos did not worry, ever. He always did what needed done—no more, no less.

My father adopted me when I was about 3 months old. For the life and the way of living he gave me, I am forever grateful.

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Comments are welcome, and all questions will be considered.

I’ll post a new topic each Friday afternoon, in one of two categories. One will be on shooting, and the other will be on living. Or: how I learned to live from what I learned by competing.

Thanks for coming in.