We’re heading out the church door when she asks me the question.
“Got your moose?”
Wish you could’ve been there. Seen the other lady’s face. ‘Cuz her eyes pop wide. Eyebrows hit the ceiling. Jaw hits the floor. (Shock.)
Oh yeah, I got my moose, thank you very much. All four pounds of the seven-hundred-seventy. Frozen in vacuum sealed packs. I flash open the bag, let her see.
But let’s back up, because this moose tale starts decades ago. Brew a pot, sit back, enjoy. It’s truly a miracle story, one that needs to be told.
Stanley’s what I call a Yankee renaissance man. New Hampshire born in 1936, he’s a former marine, expert sharpshooter. Lives off the land. If there’s one thing that can be said about Stanley, it’s that he’s a hard worker. And if there’s another thing to be said, it’s that he’s generous. A man of commitment, he was married over fifty years before his bride went Home.
He raises animals for food, always a bumper turkey crop for Thanksgiving. Not just a few. Maybe thirty. Has specific folks in mind raising them, shares ’em at Thanksgiving. Yup, he does the butchering, plucking, draining and whatever else goes with it. There are chickens to be fed, eggs to be gathered. Grows hay on his land to feed the animals. Cuts it, bales it too.
Makes sausage. Cultivates fruit trees. Makes pies. Yup, he’s a pie baker too. Blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, pumpkin and lemon pies. Blueberry his favorite.
Did I mention the vegetable garden? Yeah, Stanley has a beautiful vegetable garden. Tomatoes, sweet peas, zucchini, squash, pole beans. You name it, it grows in Stanley’s garden. Yeah, he has a green thumb. Kelly green.
Oh right, cucumbers. He grows cucumbers. Makes pickles. (‘Course he does.) Enters ‘em in the state fair.
Wins first place. Yup, Stanley does all that. All that and more.
He’s a hunter too, maybe you guessed. Taken down a few dozen deer in his time. But he always dreams of moose hunting. Talks about it, dreams aloud. In New Hampshire, moose hunting season is short. And not enough moose to go around. So the NH Fish and Game Department has a lottery. You enter the lottery. You win, you get a moose hunting license. A chance.
Twenty-six years ago, Stanley enters the lottery for his first moose hunting license. Doesn’t get it. He enters again the next year. And the next. Twenty-five times in all he enters the moose hunt lottery. Doesn’t ever win. Not once. Disappointing.
Two years ago, Stanely’s diagnosed with lymphoma, shows up in his lymph nodes first. He takes chemo, goes into remission. Then last summer he has what seems like a stroke. Tests reveal it’s the lymphoma back again. But this time, in his brain. He chooses radiation and oral drugs, just to buy more time. Because it’s only a matter of time.
On a wing and a prayer, he enters that moose hunt lottery one more time. Ten thousand apply. But only a hundred twenty-four hunters are chosen. After twenty-six years, Stanley’s one of the one hundred twenty-four hunters chosen. Yup. Stanley finally wins the lottery. He gets that moose hunting license. He’s tired, lethargic, sleeping a lot for the meds and the brain tumor. But he rallies for the hunt, and Stanley finally goes moose hunting October 19th, 2014.
“Stanley Magdziarz slowly raised his rifle, closed his right eye, peered through the scope with his left eye, then squeezed the trigger, his mind a blank. He hit the moose on the right side, killing it in an instant. ‘Fell like a ton of bricks,’ he said.” –Concord Monitor
“First time out. First shot.”
Seventy-eight years young, former marine, Stanley comes home with a moose that day. All 770 pounds of him.
Ten weeks later, Stanley goes Home.
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Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Wow. What a great story, Allie. Stanley seems like a well-rounded guy. I would totally be all over those pickles and pies. A man who makes and hunts his own food is grade-A in my book.
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
I’m so glad Stanley finally got his chance for the moose hunt! What a great story…and yes, I want some of those pickles too!
Sheryl says
Awww!!! I love this story. Stan sounds like quite the man! So glad he got his moose and then was reunited with “Mrs. Stan” just 10 weeks later. You don’t meet many people like Stan these days; they seem to be few and far between. Thanks for sharing his story here with us.
Aunt pinkie says
Wonderful story! What an amazing man! Am Soooo glad that Stanley amazingly got his license, and better than that, got his moose on the first shot! What a man! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Barbara Child says
So well said, Allie! And happily I knew Stanley and his lovely wife for many years. They were genuine people and have wonderful sons. So great he was able to get a moose before going Home.
Aunt Margie says
Sweet, sad, VICTORIOUS!! I love Stanley from here!
Christy Smith says
You are drawn to stories and stories are drawn to you…knowing you will do them justice! 🙂
Susie says
Wow, what a story. Thanks so much for sharing it, Allie.
Linda Jenkins says
I love the story, for it shows Stanley’s spirit. What a wonderful lesson in accepting what God gives you and never giving up. It was his strong faith that kept him going. And he was rewarded for that faith. Love the stories, Allie. Please keep them coming.
Denise says
There is something in my eye.
Tracy says
Awww…..I just love that story! One that I will not forget! You and Stanley touched my heart.
Joe Magdziarz says
I wanted to say thank you for writing this piece on my grandfather. I enjoyed reading it and remembering hearing him tell me the story of his moose all over again. I hope others will appreciate the great joy he brought to so many lives.
Allie says
Joe, you’re welcome and I’m so glad you saw this piece. I met your grandfather several times, was fascinated by his work ethic and many talents. Even more, I was touched by his kindness, generosity and love towards his family. I know he is greatly missed by many.
Julie says
Love this.
Bonnie says
Sweet, sweet story. Thank you for sharing Allie.
Julie says
Proof that God uses the lottery 😉
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Allie, this is such a great story. He sounds like a wonderful, giving man, and I’m glad he got a chance to do what he wanted to do for so long! Thanks for sharing!
Katie Magdziarz says
I know I’m years late to find this story, but I wanted to say thank-you just in case you might see it This piece brought back so many great memories of my Grandpa. His pies (apple was my favorite), pickles (my family still makes them with his recipe), and even all those turkeys I used to go and watch. He was so excited to have finally gottten his moose! It was sweet to be able to go back for just a few minutes reading this. Thank-you for such a great piece remembering him.
Allie says
Oh how wonderful to hear from you Katie. I’m so glad you dropped by and had a chance to go down memory lane remembering your Grandpa. I never got to try his apple pie but I wish I had, you are certainly not the first person to mention it!