Go fishing with your Dad.

MSW_SatelliteBeach

1947 was a good year.
Unemployment was at 3.9%. Our Federal debt was a mere $257.1 Billion...Cost of a stamp was $0.03. You could buy a gallon of gas for 15 cents. Average house cost was just over $6K. A new car? That'd set you back just over a grand.
In Paris, peace treaties were signed with the European Axis powers. The Polaroid camera was invented, as was the first microwave oven. Miracle on 34th street, the second greatest Christmas movie of all time, was released. Chuck Yeager flew a supersonic plane and did not explode. Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. The US Air Force was born, and the UN voted in favor of the creation of Israel.

And on January 28, 1947, my Dad was born.

He would've been 68 years old today, and would still be the best man in the room no matter where he went. I would give anything in the world to be able to call him up and tell him he's old and can't fish. And I'd die tomorrow a very happy man if I could go fishing with him just one more time. Anywhere. For anything. Hell, a cane pole, a bucket of crickets and an afternoon with him would be worth it all.
I miss hearing his laugh. And his horrible AHnold impersonation. He is and will always be the hero of my life.

Go fishing with your dad. Soon.

Tight lines,

SlayerScott

very, very cool post, nice tribute. X2, fish with your Dad often, one day you wont be able to. Mine passed 11 years ago.

duckmanJR

A fine tribute to your Dad.
I lost my Dad back in 1983. A day has never passed when I did not feel the same as you...I would gladly pay any price for "just one day"... "If only" Dad could be here was a recurrent theme on many days in the outdoors with my son.

And as a Dad with a grown son....I never miss a chance to be with him.

Jettypark

Both my mom and dad took the time to always take us fishing.... I miss both of them dearly and I also
would give anything just to have one more trip with them....

We at times take our loved ones for granted and believe they will always be here.... than one day they are
gone and at times we blame ourselves for being to busy to have made that phone call and say

Let's go fishing :cry :angel so if you are lucky to have your Dad around and he loves to fish.... Go fishing and
make as many memories as you can, while they are still here.... just saying..... trust me on that...

FishyGirl

I lost my Mom last Monday and can say the same kind of things about her. I think of her everytime I look out at the water that she loved so much, the Banana River. I sure hope it gets easier.

MSW_SatelliteBeach

Wish there were 'Like' button here. Thanks for the replies, gents.

Last time I went fishing with Dad we hooked up to an oil rig off the coast of Alabama. We got into some kings and spanish like nobody's business. We both had a king on and were tryign to figure out how we were gonna handle it whne they got to the boat. Dad yelled from one side, head back and smiling to the heavens, "I LOVE THIS ----!"

One of a million memories. **** I miss him.

MSW_SatelliteBeach

FishyGirl wrote: »

I lost my Mom last Monday and can say the same kind of things about her. I think of her everytime I look out at the water that she loved so much, the Banana River. I sure hope it gets easier.

Apologies - didn't mean to leave anyone out with the 'gents' comment earlier.

I heard some say once that the old expression 'time heals all wounds' is a damned liar.
It doesn't really get easier, we just learn to live with it.
God bless, amiga.

C Dog

Reading this thread with tears in my eyes. My dad died 20 years ago when I was 21. We grew up in rural SC. We were dirt poor. My introduction to fishing was from my dad. We fished for food. We had cane poles. Dug up earth worms for bait. Bought crickets at the tackle shop. Would drive around finding ponds, lakes or any body of water that could hold fish. Caught bluegills, cats, an occasional bass. More than once we would get runoff someone's private property. We would bring the fish home and my mom would clean them and fry them up for the family to eat. When I'm on the water I know I'm just a little bit closer to my dad in heaven. I have 2 kids age 13 and 11. And I take them out with me as much as I can. I know fishing with my son and daughter is a fond memory that they will have someday as well.

SlayerScott

It gets easier, the pain declines and the memories make you smile rather than have sadness. It takes time. I have a 3 year old that I make sure she will have tons of memories when I am gone some day.

MSW_SatelliteBeach

C Dog wrote: »

Reading this thread with tears in my eyes. My dad died 20 years ago when I was 21. We grew up in rural SC. We were dirt poor. My introduction to fishing was from my dad. We fished for food. We had cane poles. Dug up earth worms for bait. Bought crickets at the tackle shop. Would drive around finding ponds, lakes or any body of water that could hold fish. Caught bluegills, cats, an occasional bass. More than once we would get runoff someone's private property. We would bring the fish home and my mom would clean them and fry them up for the family to eat. When I'm on the water I know I'm just a little bit closer to my dad in heaven. I have 2 kids age 13 and 11. And I take them out with me as much as I can. I know fishing with my son and daughter is a fond memory that they will have someday as well.

C Dog, I'm right there with you. We fished nearly every weekend with bream poles, crickets and minnows when I was little. It was food for the table for us and still, to this day, that mound of fried bream and crappie (with some hushpuppies all around) is the best eating fish I've ever had.

When I was young, before trolling motors really came along, he'd sit up in front of that 16 ft boat and paddle with one hand and fish with the other. All. Day. Long. No idea how he did it.
I remember the very first day he told me I could run the little 25 Evinrude to get us back up the river. How dang excited I was. How proud to feel like Dad trusted me with it. How terrified I was that I'd screw up in front of him, but determined I'd do it right. And how he laughed hysterically when I couldn't pull the cord fast enough to get it started....

BigwaveDave

I lost my Dad when I was 21 also. Slayerscotts right but still I often find myself wishing I could take him out on the boat. Come home cook the fish and drink some beers with all his lil grandbabies crawling on him. I get sad sometimes that he missed all this but when I fish alone alot of times something out of the ordinary and amazing happens and I cant help to think he had something to do with it.


Fishy Girl Im sorry for your loss..Prayers to you and your family.

SlayerScott

"I fish alone alot of times something out of the ordinary and amazing happens and I cant help to think he had something to do with it"

You have that right on brother

Panfishangler1

Tight lines man.

duckmanJR

BigwaveDave wrote: »

alot of times something out of the ordinary and amazing happens and I cant help to think he had something to do with it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one...plenty of times I look skyward and say " Thanks Dad! "

I imagine him sitting around with the likes of Hemmingway and Isack Walton and him saying to them..." watch my boy...he gets so jazzed up when this happens"

duckmanJR

FishyGirl wrote: »

I lost my Mom last Monday and can say the same kind of things about her. I think of her everytime I look out at the water that she loved so much, the Banana River. I sure hope it gets easier.

Sorry for your loss Robin...prayers of strength and comfort for you and the family. :angel