Day Two

Yesterday, my son and grandson went to a local fishing pond to fish. Fishing is a very special activity. I grew up in a family where hunting, fishing, camping, clamdigging, and other outdoor activities were our form of fun and family time that was pleasant. My dad taught me to fish and took me with him and my brother on many fishing excursions. Those times were ones where I felt loved and respected which were rare in my growing up years. Because of my fond memories of this sport, I felt it was important to pass it on to my children. So, when we lived in Federal Way, Washington, by Steele Lake, I took my kids and taught them to fish. We had many fun summer afternoons and evenings as we fished together. We soon ventured out to Lake Geneva and other neighborhood lakes and ponds to see what we could catch for dinner. It was an opportunity to play with my children in a way that I understood and could do with some convidence.

One memorable fishing excursion was at Lake Geneva. The kids who ranged in ages from early grade school to Jr. High, were on the small fishing dock on the west side of the lake where there was a public park. We had spent most of the morning casting our lines into areas of the lake and then waiting for the 'big one' to bite. That event never happened so we began to gather our things so that we could go home. In the distraction of this, I apparently had taken the key ring with the car and house keys on it, out of my pocket and was holding them in my hand. I absent-mindedly picked up some unused bait and threw it into the lake but was shocked to see my key ring and keys go flying into the lake, as well!

Talk about a sinking feeling! We all watched as the keys sunk out of site into the lake off the dock. Momentary panic sunk in. What to do? Luckily, this was in the days of having cell phones that were the size of a coke can! I had to humbly call my husband to ask him to leave work and bring me his car key for our van. He did so. He came and handed me the keys and left us standing in the parking lot, as we loaded our fishing gear into the van.

Amidst the kids still giggling over my lost keys, I had a light-bulb moment. I stopped by a home where there were a couple of boys who had been swimming in the lake and I bribed them with an offer of money if they would go diving and look for my keys. They took the bait and within a day, they had retrieved my keys. They got their money and I got my keys back! THAT was a happy day! From that day on, my key ring sported a flourescent orange miniature bouy-type float that was made especially for boaters' keys...just in case they dropped their keys in the soup!

All this to share to say, that my kids and I loved to fish and it is still a means in which we share some good family times.

Now, as to yesterday, Josh caught the largest trout that any of us have caught! It was 16 inches long and a fat 4 inches wide. It cleaned out to make a complete dinner for all. I will post a photo of it when it gets down loaded to the 'puter.