Time passes, but fatherly pride is forever
I am a charter member of that club in which members are always asking, “Where in the world has the time gone?”
On the other hand, I remember one specific outing from my past like it was yesterday.
I had taken the day off from the broadcast studio in Minneapolis and cancelled the evening guide parties I had previously scheduled.
I had a new 18-foot bass boat that I used to fish the various lakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. My home body of water was Lake Minnetonka, a wonderful 18,000-acre honey hole loaded with all kinds of big fish.
“Daddy, I wanna go fishing with you,” both daughters cried out when they heard me declare I had some free time.
Still at the dock, I took several minutes to rig two spincast setups for the girls. I moved the boat about 200 feet to a spot I always fished, where a rock reef held a variety of species.
I rigged both rods with minnows and had them flip the setups out and into the water. Even though Melissa (the younger) was only 3 years old, she had what appeared to be a natural talent for handling a spincast rod and reel. Melissa seemed to be more of an angler than her sister. Nevertheless, I just stood there and watched them and their rods.
It wasn’t more than a couple minutes when Melissa’s rod tip signaled a strike. I told her to rear back and set the hook, which she did. A brief battle ensued.
She seemed to tire quickly because she handed the rod to me just as a northern pike came to the surface.
When she saw the toothy critter swimming in circles, Melissa screamed and took one step down into the boat from the casting platform. She tried hiding behind the steering console.
She later told me when she saw the pike she became terrified. I then told her stuff like that happens all the time — even with adults.
Since those early days, Melissa constantly calls me and asks to go fishing again. And sometimes we go when time contraints are not such a distraction.
While Melissa was not a very good student in high school, she sure became one later on. In her late 30s, she decided she was going to an area junior college. Long story short, at the end of every semester Melissa finished with a straight A average and earned a place on the Dean’s List.
And just the other day Melissa was officially inducted into the National Honor Society. There wasn’t enough room on my handkerchief to handle the tears.
The purpose of sharing this tale is because, like that northern pike so many years ago, my second eldest surprised me. Along with receiving honors that brought her numerous scholarships, she earned the chance to study overseas, which she has accepted.
I feel sad because I’ve allowed too much time to slip away from our daughter-dad fishing trips.
On the other hand, I am tremendously thrilled with Melissa’s academic accomplishments — especially since it appears that I will have to the chance to visit her faraway location.
I understand there is tremendous salmon and trout angling where she will be studying for six months, and this could be the perfect opportunity for us to bond again. And perhaps I’ll have the chance to teach her how to use a fly rod.
She joined us for Thanksgiving dinner, and I made sure to have the hankie ready in case more tears of pride erupted.
It still surprises me, but stuff like that happens all the time — even with adults.
ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.