Fishing

I only went fishing with my Grandpa once or twice.

I don't remember where we were or if anybody else was there. I know we didn't catch anything but that didn't seem to matter to me or my Grandpa. I was just a kid, maybe 7 or 8, and I relished the undivided attention that my Grandpa gave me, even if I have since forgotten any practical advice he gave me about landing a trout or tying a lure onto my line.

What I did learn, although it took me a few more decades to realize, was that fishing wasn't about the fish, or at least it wasn't when he and I were fishing. Good thing, given the lack of success we had those few times. I'm sure it would have made the day more exciting to have caught something. . . anything really, but it wouldn't have made the memory any more clear and might have actually made it harder for me to recognize what I was taught.

Last week these memories came back to me.

The Scouts had a fishing camp out planned for this past weekend. In preparation for that trip, I went out and outfitted myself with some basic fishing gear, including a few extra rods and reels for our kids. The week before this trip, I found myself with an unexpected evening free and some brand new fishing gear in my trunk.

I got home after work that day and told Thomas we were going fishing. We headed out to a local pond and found ourselves a spot. I taught Thomas the finer points of casting and we tried a few different types of lures while fishing until it got dark.

We caught a lot of weeds and a few tree limbs but not even a nibble from the fish. Highlighting our failure, the guy down the way from us was catching something about every third cast.

This worried me. I thought Thomas might get discouraged by his dad's obvious lack of fishing skills but then he made a declaration; just one short statement of fact.

"Fishing is awesome, especially when you're with someone you like."

With those few words, I remembered the time spent fishing with my Grandpa and I hoped desperately that I had expressed a similar sentiment to him. With a simple phrase, I finally learned what my Grandpa had wanted me to understand.

Fishing is not about the fish.

There's a lot of things I wish I could talk to my Grandpa about now that I am older. Things that I didn't know to ask only a few years ago. Now, with a daughter on the cusp of her teenage years and a son not too far behind her, I wish I had a few more years with him. I wish I could capture just a little more of his wisdom and experience.

For now I'll have to settle for the memories made and the lessons learned, even if it takes me a few years to understand them.