My dad was my best fishing partner for 21 years. When I was 6 he baited my first hook with a squiggly worm that made me squirm and taught me how to cast out my fishing line without hooking the back of my shirt.
We’d sit on the dock’s wobbly wooden bench for hours eating PB & J Ritz cracker sandwiches, watching our poles dance in the morning breeze. Only when I got really bored would I turn my attention elsewhere, generally to my Spirograph or Barbie.
Every Sunday, June to September rain or shine we drove to that tiny pier.
It was an embarrassing moment when at 7 I reeled in a fish all by myself and my Dad had to tell EVERY SINGLE person within earshot.
If that wasn’t enough, he had to coax them into coming over and peering into our bucket so they could set eyes on the prize we would momentarily be setting free.
Adult milestones never interfered with our fishing journeys.
When I obtained my first job I made certain to request shifts that started after 12:00.
When I married I left my husband to sleep away the pre-dawn and returned hours later with compensation; bagels, lox and cream cheese.
Our routine was nearly identical for the first 14 years.
We talked mostly “fish talk” among the other adventurers and took turns snoozing. I’d read the comics while my dad digested the entire Sunday paper.
See there’s a lot of down time when you’re a fisherperson (my word for girl fishermen).
However, ever so often you’d get a nibble on your line and your spirit would soar and your heart might race a tad and you’d grab your line and hope the tug of war on the other end was a fish and not a wad of seaweed.
Funny thing about fishing. It didn’t seem to matter if we actually caught a fish.
The anticipation and possibility were the sources of our joy.
As I aged so did our conversations from how fish swam in schools to how my Grandpa, though not schooled himself, taught my Dad how to live harmoniously among different people and how to make a difference himself.
For the next half of our journey we enjoyed the sun on our faces, the rain on our shoulders and the easiness of summer days.
Throughout all those 21 years I thought my Dad and I were just fishing.
That first Sunday in September when he was no longer sitting beside me on that wobbly bench, I realized what we were doing was being a father & daughter. And that his fishing lessons were really life lessons in disguise.
Fishing Lesson #1
It’s not always easy to catch a fish.
Life Lesson #1
When you really want something badly enough, you must be patient. Not all things come according to our schedule. Wait and while waiting, be productive. You’ll be rewarded in time.
Fishing Lesson #2
Once you’ve caught a fish, revel in the moment for a moment or two and then return the fish to the water and start again.
Life Lesson #2
When you reach a goal applaud your achievement, tell your friends on Facebook and then set a brand new goal to work towards.
Fishing Lesson #3
Something about Sundays and summer sunrises and the chance to catch a fish making a man’s soul richer.
Life Lesson #3
Something about Sundays and summer sunrises and the chance for a daughter to be with her Dad being the richest blessing of them all.