My father and the great green frog
My world view is changing permanently and as a support I am going into my history.
I have written somewhat in here about the strife, pain and non-understanding that I have gone through with my father in our complex relationship. I have not however said much of the better parts of our togetherness. It is very important to me because I get my most important trait, my humor, from my father.
When I was a kid my father used to take me fishing. We went all over but mostly we went to a lake that was in the middle of nowhere, just a short hike from the forest log cabin we would eventually build together.
As a kid I used to love all the lores. I was a big Mr. Twister fan. But my young eyes were always fascinated by this one lore of a frog. It was absolutely huge and heavy and expensive by comparison. It was perfectly carved and colored. I would pet him each time we went fishing and he 'lived' in the tackle box. Sometimes I would harass my dad about why he never used the frog lore. He always told me that it was very special and needed an occasion.
Years went by as they always do.
As I was becoming an adult my dad and I snuck his canoe onto the lake and paddled toward the good shallows. He turned to me and smiled and said "Now is the time to use the frog lore." I was so happy. I could already see the huge fish the thing would reel in.
To this day the events that happened next are more art than reality. My dad tied the lore on the fishing line. He arched his back to give a monumentous cast. And he whipped that lore like I've never seen him fish before.
I watched it against the sky. The arch - the shadow - the known fish-killing ability.
And then more sky and then more sky and then I saw my Dad's line slack in the wind and back to the frog which was cruising past the lake's edge and into the forest. It landed far and out of sight in the woods. I heard leaves crinkle with a tremendous sound.. And then wave after wave of laughter. My dad probably would have laughed harder but he was busy steadying the boat since I was laughing so hard I almost capsized us.
Apparently you don't always tie the lore on correctly. But to me that frog's one cast was worth more than the dozen's of Mr Twisters I lost. ;)
I have written somewhat in here about the strife, pain and non-understanding that I have gone through with my father in our complex relationship. I have not however said much of the better parts of our togetherness. It is very important to me because I get my most important trait, my humor, from my father.
When I was a kid my father used to take me fishing. We went all over but mostly we went to a lake that was in the middle of nowhere, just a short hike from the forest log cabin we would eventually build together.
As a kid I used to love all the lores. I was a big Mr. Twister fan. But my young eyes were always fascinated by this one lore of a frog. It was absolutely huge and heavy and expensive by comparison. It was perfectly carved and colored. I would pet him each time we went fishing and he 'lived' in the tackle box. Sometimes I would harass my dad about why he never used the frog lore. He always told me that it was very special and needed an occasion.
Years went by as they always do.
As I was becoming an adult my dad and I snuck his canoe onto the lake and paddled toward the good shallows. He turned to me and smiled and said "Now is the time to use the frog lore." I was so happy. I could already see the huge fish the thing would reel in.
To this day the events that happened next are more art than reality. My dad tied the lore on the fishing line. He arched his back to give a monumentous cast. And he whipped that lore like I've never seen him fish before.
I watched it against the sky. The arch - the shadow - the known fish-killing ability.
And then more sky and then more sky and then I saw my Dad's line slack in the wind and back to the frog which was cruising past the lake's edge and into the forest. It landed far and out of sight in the woods. I heard leaves crinkle with a tremendous sound.. And then wave after wave of laughter. My dad probably would have laughed harder but he was busy steadying the boat since I was laughing so hard I almost capsized us.
Apparently you don't always tie the lore on correctly. But to me that frog's one cast was worth more than the dozen's of Mr Twisters I lost. ;)