Mindy had to work tonight, and Zoey Zonked out on me around 8:30. I took this time in between to sit down and finish my homework for the week, after that I was walking through the house and noticed a fishing pole that I had started last year and never taken the time to finish.
This week was a stressful week to say the least, I picked up a part time job, so now my day consists of rod orders, work, daddy daycare, school, and family time. So I welcomed the alone time to sit down at my wrapper and work on a personal rod project.
Now as crazy as life has been it seem like the moment I sit down to wrap a rod all of it goes away. I end up in a zone and all I can think about is past memories of life lessons in the outdoors. Im not sure if its the way the thread lays on a rod or the way the powder turns from dust to a glosssy finish on a hot jighead, but something about it is tranquil. Tonight while sitting there wrapping the rod, I had ice fishing in the brain, who wouldnt with all this heat we have had this summer. Anyway, A memory I would like to share with you guys is the first one that popped into my head tonight. I was young, Im not sure when it happened or even where it happened. All I remember is I was out on the lake with Dad and my Godfather, otherwise known as "Uncle Lynn". I remember that dad had one of those houses that had a plywood floor and two plywood ends and a blue tarp for a roof. I believe now days they are called an Ontario Style house. Dad had taken the time to set up the house and get the holes marked, after that they slid the house off the holes and started drilling, this was the days before power augers, and as a matter of fact I still have that same old blue mora hanging in the garage that was used that day. Being a kid Im not sure if I was bored, excited or chasing something around the lake, all I know is I remembered those famous words still heard on lakes today, "Watch out for the holes". You guessed it......in went the foot, calf, knee, and finally stopping at the thigh. I remember dad grabbing me and throwing me into the old chevy pickup and turning it on and blasting the heat. Down came the house, all the gear loaded back into the truck, and off for home we went.
The next memory to come to mind was another with Uncle Lynn, this time we had taken a family vacation up to the Duluth area. We went with Lynn as well as my godmother Sally, After spending the night in Duluth we headed north to twig to stay at a very nice little cottage, well at least I remember it looking like a cottage on the lake. I remember that the lady who owned it was a friend of my godparents. Either way, I remember being on the dock with Lynn, Im not sure if he was fishing or if we caught anything but I remember him handing me a pole and casting it out. Being young I remember hooking something and pulling and pulling as hard as I could, I remember a snap as the line broke and running up to the house to tell Lynn about the huge fish that broke my line. Looking back on it now and remembering how silly I must have been telling my fisherman's tale, It was definitely a snag but back then......what a whopper!
Im not sure if its the fact that after Lynn passed away, I didnt see much of my godmother. Only to have come back into my life in the last six months. Or if its just the fact that Im a dad now that I am starting to remember this when Im at the wrapper and relaxed, But I welcome the memory's of lifes lessons.
I hope you enjoyed my little story's and I hope to have more time one of these days to get back to the blog and write some more. Either way, the rod is almost done, and is properly being dubbed "Casey" for Uncle lynns faithful companion.
Rest in peace, and I hope your Lines are tight Lynn! Wish I woulda had more time with ya!
Lynn Edward Bartsch 4-10-51 1-21-96
