I love to fish. Period.

My grandfather cultivated this love of mine when I was a child, taking me fishing often in lakes, ponds and streams (or cricks like we call them). We would fish in the morning and at night, in rain or shine. Summer or winter. It didn’t matter. I was and still am always excited to go fishing. I love it.

As fisherman, we all have our favorite “spots”. Places we love to go where we believe a trophy size fish awaits. Some people like deep, still water near a creek bed with overhanging branches where monster brook and brown trout await. Others like the ocean and large lakes where you need 2 guys to pull in the catch.

For me, it’s always been this incredible pond on a farm in my hometown where my best friend Gary from high school lived. We spent many a summer weekend fishing there together. At that time, his family still owned the property. Bass, pickerel, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, rock bass…you name it, we caught it in that pond. In fact the largest pickerel I ever caught in my life, 26 inches, was taken from that little pond. So many memories. So many fish “stories”. Even today, decades after the property had been sold, I get excited and optimistic that the “big one” still awaits. So much of who I am and what I value in life can be linked to that pond, fishing and those I shared it with. Patience. Optimism. Persistence. Gratitude. Nature. Beauty. Peace. Humility.

Unfortunately, the older I got, the less time I had/made for fishing. And when my grand father passed away and Gary’s family sold the property, fishing almost vanished from my life . Even when my kids were born, it never seemed to be a priority to take them fishing.

But this wouldn’t be the end of the fishing “story”.

Now almost 30 years later, I reconnected with Gary and his dad Larry. We came to learn that the current owners of the property were seasonally renting the beautiful log cabin they had built on the property and it was available. Staying there overnight had become a life long obsession of mine and now the opportunity had come.

So when on the off chance I learned that the beautiful logo cabin that majestically stood watch over the pond was being rented, I jumped at the chance. I contacted the owner and made a reservation. #DreamComeTrue

The weather forecast for that weekend was spotty at best. On the water, even a pond this size in the country, you never know. So we picked our bags, fishing poles and off we went. Walking into the cabin for the first time was surreal. For 25+ years I had dreamed of seeing the inside of the cabin. Now having the chance to go inside and stay brought overwhelming joy!

We quickly unpacked the car and headed for the pond to “catch dinner”. (We don’t keep any fish, but you gotta have goals!) As usual, the fish were biting….all sizes and kinds. Laughter, excitement, frustration and excuses filled the air. I felt like I was 10 years old again.

Later that night Gary and his dad Larry joined us for dinner. Larry, another avid fisherman, loved the sport as much as I do. His talent for catching fish is captured here. Enough said. LOL

After dinner, we watched the sunset, as a large snapping turtle wandered up the lawn searching for a place to lay her eggs. Nearby a mother deer frolicked with her fawns as a flock of turkey silently strutted across the meadow while geese paddled around the pond. We even had a full moon that night and a clear sky, enabling us to take the kids outside to see what the constellations really look like. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

The weather the next morning wasn’t great. Slow steady rain blanketed the countryside with no signs of letting up. Disappointment laid heavy in the air, not just the fog.

“Now what”?, Matthew asked anxiously.

“What do you mean?” I replied.

“It’s raining. How can we fish?” he asked.

“So”, I said with a grin.

“Did you bring us rain jackets?”, he asked.

“No, but I have a better idea,” chuckling under my breath. “I’ll be right back.”

Moments later, I returned.

“Is that a garbage bag?” Matthew asked.

“Yup, and your new raincoat”, I exclaimed as I searched through the nearby draw for scissors.

Matthew is a pretty easy going kid, but even he was skeptical that this would work. But several tries later, 3 rain jackets were made to order!

As we put on our new “rain jackets” and headed out the door, Larry met us outside to join our mission.

“What the hell are you wearing?”

“Garbage bags,” Matthew exclaimed.

Larry paused. Looked away and just shook his headed, his signature move. We all burst out laughing. Then a quick picture to capture this moment and down to the pond we went.

The rain was steady and even intensified on and off, but the fish were biting and it was incredible. In fact, I didn’t even have time to fish. I just kept taking the fish off as they reeled them in and re-baiting the hooks.

As the kids sat their fishing, soaked and smiling, filled with excitement even in the pouring rain, I could hear my grandfather looking down from heaven smiling and saying “Well, they are hooked now”.

It’s moments like this that either make you love fishing for the rest of your life or hate it. To be sure this was love, I said:

“Hey, guys. The next time you look outside and it’s raining, what are you going to think?”

Almost in unison they replied “that’s it’s a good day to go fishing.”

They were right. It really was a good day..especially for fishing. Mission Accomplished.

As we finished for the day and headed towards the cabin, I reflected on how a dreary, wet morning with no rain jackets lead to a new perspective on what a “good day” can be; and how the “rain” in our lives can actually lead to “love” with a little bit of creativity and some trash bags.

Go fishing. Take the kids. Get wet. Bring trash bags. 🙂

For most of us in the northeast, this week marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year.

As we waited for the bus with Matthew on this beautiful morning, we talked, laughed, and reminisced about the amazing summer we had and the time we spent together. In fact, it was the first year that we almost forgot to get a picture of him waiting outside. You see we were so immersed in this precious moment in our lives, a moment when Matthew is still home with us and beginning 7th grade. (Our daughter Megan is a sophomore at college) His energy, excitement and optimism for what lies ahead was inspiring, intoxicating and down right incredible. Suddenly I realized the bus was about to come and said to my wife “Let’s make sure we get a picture”.

It was in that moment that I realized that the “real moment” had already been captured. Not digitally, but emotionally in our hearts, in our minds and in our souls…forever. How many times had I taken the picture each year of him, only to have missed the moment. In the craziness of our lives and “capturing” everything in social media, we may succeed in capturing the picture, but we may miss what really matters…living in the moment.