Short story:
So growing up I have always been the indoor let's play some video games and watch TV type of person most of the time. The rest of my family, all loved outdoor activities. Boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, etc. My grandpa especially loved to fish and when I was really young, around 5 or 6 we would go fishing in this filled pond. I never really liked fishing, because it would take too long for anything to happen. If something doesn't capture my attention quickly, it probably never will. So you can imagine a younger me trying to hold a fishing pole waiting for a fish to bite, which you know takes forrrrreeeevvvveeeerrrrr. Ain't nobody got time for that. I think that was the main reason he took me to this already filled pond, in hopes to get me to start liking fishing with him. It only worked on that pond. lol
Fast forward to my teen years when he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, his outdoor activities decreased dramatically. He would still want to go down the street to "The Old Lady's pond", who was a very good friends of pops. This would only happen once in awhile when he felt good enough to go, so when he did, he was really excited. Naturally, he would want me to go with him. Being the stupid selfish teenager I was at the time, I was more focused on chasing girls and working as much as I could to get some money in my pocket. On top of this, I never considered the possibility of the cancer actually killing him, because he was such a strong man. I knew if anyone could beat cancer, it was him. The doctors made it sound like such a real possibility, so I didn't let myself worry about it. Well, cancer ended up winning and taking his life leaving me with a feeling of regret that hurt so freaking much.
With that said, I went fishing yesterday! It's something I know I can never get over, but it has become something of a memorial of him in my own way. I also have a fishing trip planned for Michigan with most of my family this summer too, so I'm really excited about it. I wanted to share this with you all, so wish me luck in catching something this summer, cause I got nothing yesterday.
I once partook in a class to gain my fishing permit, never finished it due to me first being forced to do it and second simply being too young and having other things on my mind at that time... long story. Well, I think your grandpops did understand your needs at that age ;> and sounds like you two spent much quality time together, so don't let the sorrow eat you up and try to remember the good things, if I may say so. Who knows, maybe when I'm old(er), I'll finally start fishing myself. Probably beats Bingo anyway ;D.
Oh, and thanks for the GA ;P.
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You are most welcome! Good luck! I also forgot to post a bump link! So, I'm hijacking your comment :P
Bump
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:O.
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I also lost my granda from cancer :/ So I can imagine you trying to preserve those memories and also "honor" him in a way! :)
Anyway. Thanks for the GA
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Yes I do like this story very much... was so confused by "Read the short story" and not seeing this GA description yet. I thought it was an understood I... "I read the short story" but it was a understood YOU... "You read the short story"... maybe say -- "Read the short story I wrote in the GA description"
It''s something I remember from my Grandpa's memories too... he lived by a large "ditch" he called it... that was SOOOOOOOOOOO utterly full of catfish that you didn't have to wait at ALL... !! NO JOKE-- we would put canned corn on the hook and immediately when we dangled it above the water there were 20 or more catfish fighting each other and jumping out of the water to get the corn before it even got in the water!
I guess that's the kind of fishing you would have liked.
My Grandpa would take the fish off the hook as I was scared of the whiskers of the catfish... I was told they sting you if they touch you. (Dont know if that's true tho)
Thanks for this warm and touching memory of your Grandpa... definitely worth celebrating.
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Catfish have, I believe, bones that poke you in their fins. I got poked a few times I remember growing up.
That's the kind of pond my pops took me too! It's amazing how the old timers could find places like this. You would have told me such a place existed before seeing it, I would have thought it was an old mans pipe dream. The kind of dream they think up after 5 hours of fishing with no bites. lol
"What if there was a place, where you could catch fish in an instant!"
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"Let's dig a hole and put fish in it, so we don't have to wait!" :D
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When I was pretty young there was one time I went fishing with my grandpa and a few other relatives and the fish just wouldn't stop biting. It was all one kind of fish. I remember somebody saying they must have been spawning at the the time for there to be so many. We even ran out of bait and had to cut up some fake rubber or plastic worms so everybody would have some "bait" to keep fishing (we only had one or two fake worms). Wasn't very effective as the fish couldn't bite the short pieces of plastic or rubber very well but it was still fun. Never had another experience with fishing anything like that.
I hadn't thought about that day in a while. Maybe not since my grandpa passed. Thank you for reminding me of that.
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Very touching story, thanks for sharing. Never met my grandpa because he was such an abusive and violent person that my grandma and her three daughters had to run away from him.
Keep celebrating your good memories of him and thank God (or whatever you believe in) for having a great person in your life.
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I almost cried. Kids are universally so self-centered. That's why I can't blame them for being so and if they miss you when you're gone, then it means you did things right. Your grandpa must have done things right and I bet he enjoyed doing them. Hope you have a great time with your family telling family stories!
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Thanks a los for awesome ga
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Nice story.
I hope you have a good catch this summer, probably your grandpa would be proud of you knowing what you do in his memory.
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I hope you have a great time fishing with your family. I miss fishing with my grandfather, we used to do dip net fishing.
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Thanks a lot great GA!
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Have an awesome trip with your family! Your grandfather will be with you..
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I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said, but I hope you have a good fishing trip.
Hope you have a good day. :)
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I'm sorry for your loss, Fyan.. I'm happy you took fishing as way of remembering your late grandpa and I hope the tradition will pass on to your children! :)
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This was a good reminder that I need to buy something for my grandmother that I'd forgotten about. Thanks for sharing, tough to hear.
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That's for sharing. It's normal to feel regret, but he knew you loved him and I'm sure he would be proud of you right now! Good luck!
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Well even though i'm not into fishing i can relate to the feeling of loss. I remember i never had time for my grandpa when i was visiting him on vacations and now only thing which left is some vague memories of him playin his beloved piano. Yes.
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Both my grandfathers died while I was in my teens. I was either too young or, like you, too busy with teen stuff to spend much time with them. I regret not having any mature time with them to learn some of what they had throughout their lives but am thankful that I knew them for as long as I did and have fond memories of them both.
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I hope you have a great trip this summer, and I know that you'll keep him in your thoughts. There are often a lot of things that we do when we're "young and foolish", and it's not that wisdom comes with age, but it comes with experience. While we can't change the past, we can definitely make choices going forward, and it's always better to regret the things that you've done, rather than regret the things that you wished you would have done. :)
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That is very touching story, I haven't visited my grandmother & grandfather in like 6 months, university got pretty hardcore, really planning ot visit them soon
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