Thursday, June 14, 2012

"She thinks we're just fishing"

Before I get too involved with this story….

**I did run yesterday evening (A little 5 mile run) while stopping to visit a neighbor I always wave at and wanted to at least check in….long story short….he ended up being from Boone County (where dad is from) and we know some of the same people…go figure….funny what a small world)

I heard this song on my way home last night and it seemed appropriate to blog about.  It kinda brought some tears to my eyes as the personal meaning it means to me.  Also, like many other days, the timing seemed funny after my blog I posted, maybe that’s why it caught my attention as much as it did.


A few trips ago back when I was at home visiting…we all were talking about fishing.  I had showed dad the pictures through the TV from my camera of kids at the reunion fishing and all the fish they caught.  We couldn’t help but tell the story of “the one that got away” at Crystal Lake.  You know we all have “that one” that makes a true fishing story exaggerated enough to think it possibly was the biggest fish you’ve ever seen “around these parts”. 
I meant to go through some pictures last night and try to find some photos of fishing when I was younger, so I may need to come back and update some later. 
I have some really fond memories of Crystal Lake (for those of you not from around here, it’s NOT the one from the horror movie Jason)
Dad Being able to fish Shortly after his Brain Surgery procedure (at Crystal Lake).  He was able to get around better for a short while after that.
As kids I was either running laps around the single lane black top path, walking around fishing in all the right spots, laps of riding bike, swimming, in Ryan Jones’s case falling into the lake, soaking up some sun, etc.  It goes without saying as soon as darkness crept up you could find us on the dock setting up camp for a night full of catfishing (don’t forget the chicken liver, my secret hot dog bait, and whatever bait someone mentioned the night before they caught some with).  Sometimes one of us may have taken a break to make a lap around the lake to see how everyone else was doing, but I usually stayed put to show off our catches upon anyone passing by our dock because we had a reputation to keep (ok actually at the time I was too young to drive) J  I think catfishing is a contributor to the lesson of learning patience.  It’s just too tempting to reel a little bit of the line in to see if you just might feel a little tug at the other end, or worry maybe your bait was gone.  Sitting there in our chairs, with our flashlights handy, surrounded by whatever disgusting smell of bait we chose maybe isn’t for everyone, but for me and dad…..it was perfect. 

Now…the one that got away….One day Rick and Isaiah were there for the day visiting (thank goodness they were so I had some witnesses) and I was on the dock casting away.  Upon reeling in one cast I got a bite…a big one…you know one that makes the pole jerk and pull and bend which induces panic and probably a few slight squeals.  Of course quickly followed by the screaming of “DAAAAADDDDDDDD”.  I’m certain those butterflies in my stomach added to the pitch of my voice which created panic to dad and Rick that something bad happened and they came running down the steps.  (Honestly speaking I don’t blame them; we usually were up to something)  This fish jerked, pulled, swam in, swam out…dad kept telling me to let it wear itself out and I kept wanting to reel it in.  We finally fought the fish for what seemed like 3 days….(hence the true fisherman exaggeration here)….  Now…here is where the story goes bad…..  I handed the rod to dad….  Regret #1 (or maybe no regret at all because now I get to place this blame on him).  I was probably driving him nuts upon my way of handling the fish so he decided he better take over.  We finally got the fish close to the dock and dad started to pull it up and it was bending the reel really bad, so Rick decided to reach down and see if he could pull it up.  (It was a bass)  Well Dad thought Rick had a hold of it, so he jerked on the line to do I don’t know what, however that resulted in the hook coming out of the fish and as all big fish stories go….the fish wrestled away and swam off without us getting it out of the water completed to see just how big….But I do promise you it was at least 12-15 inches “halfway” out of the water……  As I type this I feel the disappointment creep back….ohhh thank goodness it was dad holding the pole J
I do think there were a few days of silence between us and I’m almost certain I didn’t allow him to touch my pole after that.  Even though that fish probably would have broken the line far before that if I had been holding the pole, but those are just minor details in the midst of this.
Still Love Fishing :)
Just a little Catch for the Day....notice the 2 chairs sitting on the dock...they always say, try to find a man who reminds you of your dad....(don't worry I reel in my own fish now) :)

Carter's Fish, my nephew, (We may need to stretch the truth on this one when we tell pappaw what we caught in his pond)

Sophie's (my niece) Pretty Fish to tell pappaw About

I treasure all those talks we shared waiting on a pole or bobber to move (even just a little jiggle to stir up some hope) all those nights.  I’m certain that’s where dad and I became best friends. 

Now…I suppose I need to go looking for the next big catch to stir up a good story.  As the saying goes…
Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.”

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Country Roads...

I have to say…. I’m so glad to be living back closer to home.  This weekend we had my cousin’s wedding and it was so nice to feel “closer” for such a family event. Since moving back to West Virginia, I feel like I’ve seen my family more in a year then I’ve been able to see combined in the last 6 years.  I am a few days shy of “Officially” being back/living in WV for a year J  As the song sings…”Country Roads Take Me Home, to the Place I belong…”  I suppose as my Dayton friends (and college friends in Pittsburgh) tease, I’ve always been a little bit country J

As for the running updates….
Friday:  Ran 6 miles… Tried to have a few intervals of extending my stride just to change up the pace a bit to alter my run a little. 
Saturday:  Ran an easier 4 miles today. 
Sunday:  Ran about 4 ½ miles at a little bit of a steadier pace.  Brock ran with me this evening so it was nice to have some company along the run. (I"m sure this goes without saying with both of us being too competitive for our own good a nice little sprint was added at the end...I won't reveal the results) :)
Monday:  Took this evening off, was ready to go for a run but the weather didn’t look very good, a lot of rain and thunder etc.
Tuesday:  Raced home to try to beat the storm that was looking to take over the area. Of course it decided to get ugly when I was getting off work and during the day it was beautiful as I had to be stuck inside.  I didn’t want to get trapped inside again like last evening so I figured I’d take the chance. I told mom I felt like I needed a ignite start button this evening as my feet where moving, I just didn’t feel like I was going anywhere.   Ran about 6 miles.. on the way home the storm clouds were rolling in so I assume it goes without say my sprint back was a bit of a faster pace than usual.  Nothing like some thunder and lightning to make you speed up a bit.

Congrats Betsy on a Beautiful Day and Wedding!


Aunt Kay made sure we went home with food for dad to enjoy (she spoils him with some of his favorites she makes him) and making sure dad got to share in the day that way.  She obviously knows the way to dad’s heart (well stomach for that matter) J
Speaking of being gone a year, I’m really looking forward to seeing some of my girlfriends from Dayton this weekend.  I didn’t realize the timing of this would be so close to the one year Anniversary J  I’m still debating on who I can convince to go for a run with me while we are there. 

Dad….thank you for teaching me to love the outdoors.  We've spend many days on the banks of the lake fishing and anywhere else we could find.  This time of the year I appreciate so much of loving having anything to do with being outside enjoying the sunshine and cool evenings.  I look forward to bombfire nights, s’mores, and roasting hot dogs on an open flame, even if my city friends are confused at growing up on 72 acres and not being “farmers” J