Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
FISHING, IS SO MUCH MORE THAN CATCHING FISH!
Let me explain a little.
My friend Frank and I have been fishing together for decades. We have had our ups and down but never lost contact, until he had a stroke and it nearly killed him. It had been almost a year since I had heard from him and his number was disconnected. I located his son through f.b. and learned of his fate. It took him over a year to be able to get back out on the water and this time with a cane and lack of balance. He can no longer drive and so, I am his sole connection to the world he knows. His son is not an outdoorsman and other than gaming, has little interests in life. This is NOT the world he and I grew up in and although we have our disagreements, we keep a certain sanity in our lives, by our shared hobbies and walks down memory lane. As his health lessens, and his acceptance of the end increases, it is important to keep on keeping on, to hold onto a bit of sanity.
These trips, the average guy looks at as possibly wasting time, BUT it is all he has and all I can offer! We do what we can in life, then, it's over. One never knows how or when, so enjoy it all with those around you.
As I dropped him at home and an hour later, I got home, I figured "another day on the water"l But later that day, Frank had another stroke and although he is recovering slowly, each one takes a little more of him. One day soon, he will lose all ability to go fishing again. That day, another part of my world shuts down as well. I guess we can get together and watch Adam 12, Wagon train, Tails of the Wells Fargo and Benny Hill, etc. but it will be hard to accept!
FISHING, IS SO MUCH MORE THAN CATCHING FISH!
Let me explain a little.
My friend Frank and I have been fishing together for decades. We have had our ups and down but never lost contact, until he had a stroke and it nearly killed him. It had been almost a year since I had heard from him and his number was disconnected. I located his son through f.b. and learned of his fate. It took him over a year to be able to get back out on the water and this time with a cane and lack of balance. He can no longer drive and so, I am his sole connection to the world he knows. His son is not an outdoorsman and other than gaming, has little interests in life. This is NOT the world he and I grew up in and although we have our disagreements, we keep a certain sanity in our lives, by our shared hobbies and walks down memory lane. As his health lessens, and his acceptance of the end increases, it is important to keep on keeping on, to hold onto a bit of sanity.
These trips, the average guy looks at as possibly wasting time, BUT it is all he has and all I can offer! We do what we can in life, then, it's over. One never knows how or when, so enjoy it all with those around you.
As I dropped him at home and an hour later, I got home, I figured "another day on the water"l But later that day, Frank had another stroke and although he is recovering slowly, each one takes a little more of him. One day soon, he will lose all ability to go fishing again. That day, another part of my world shuts down as well. I guess we can get together and watch Adam 12, Wagon train, Tails of the Wells Fargo and Benny Hill, etc. but it will be hard to accept!
