The Fishing Trip
by Madelyn Shields


The year was c.1947. My Mother loved to fish and we lived in Jackson, Michigan, a city surrounded by lakes. She would go everyday if possible and said it was good, that fishing relaxed her. Mother's brother loved to fish as well.

It was just the kind of day that was right for fishing...warm and balmy.  Uncle Jay, who was 10 years younger than Mother, decided that it was just one of those days to go fishing. Now he was rigged out with a row boat and fishing pole, line, bobbin and sinkers. And sure as shootin', Mother found out that Uncle Jay was going out in the boat and she thought that she would like to go along...it was the perfect idea to calm her nerves. Mother got her fishing pole, line, bobbin, sinkers, and what ever else she needed to go along.

So, putting all their fishing gear in the car, they drove out to the Michigan Center Lake.  Getting out of the car, they were excited about their fishing excursion. They climbed into the boat, with all their fishing gear, and made sure they had the oars put in their sockets. Getting settled, Uncle Jay pushed the boat off shore and started slicing the water with the oars, setting up a rhythm while oaring the boat out in the lake. Michigan Center lake was pretty good size, so it  took a lot of muscle to drag those oars through the water. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, they reached a place where they thought they could catch some fish. Now... for some serious fishing and some serious therapy for Mother's nerves. Uncle Jay threw the anchor in making a big splash and as the boat gently swayed back and forth they put their lines in and fished.

They were settling in real well. Uncle Jay was fishing and Mother's nerves were getting their healing. They were both enjoying the day that the Lord had made, when out of nowhere, the wind tuned up and started blowing, dark clouds started billowing, lighting began to light up the sky, and the thunder rolled. Uncle Jay threw his gear down into the boat and grabbed the oars. Mothers nerves suddenly collapsed, and the boat began to moved, going in circles...Uncle Jay was using all his strength to get the boat back to shore and mother commenced to praying and calling on the Lord.

"O God save us, Jesus help us, we are going to drown, HELP US LORD! she wailed. The more it stormed, the more Mother prayed. The louder Mother prayed the more Uncle Jay was going in circles trying to oar the boat back to shore. After what seemed like hours of rowing and Mother praying, Uncle Jay had had it. He managed to bring the boat to shore saying, "Goodnight Helen, if the storm wouldn't scare you to death your praying would!"

The moral of the story...Stay in the boat, even if it is going in circles. Sooner or later you will hit land.


Comments

  1. Jenny TeetsSeptember 21, 2012 at 6:39 AM

    Ha ha...that was really a great story. I didn't know your mom liked to fish? She really lived life to its fullest! :)

    ReplyDelete

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