When I was a little girl, my dad would take me fishing. Let me correct that statement, he would take me with him while he would fish. I would be right next to him playing with the minnows in the bucket. I’d gather some water and a minnow in my small hands and laugh at how much it tickled when it swam around. That was my experience with fishing. And as a young child, I was only entertained with that for a short time and found that the time out there was boring and miserable.

Fast forward to my adult years. I never had anyone take me fishing again. I didn’t have a clue why so many of my friends liked to go do that. Voicing my opinion, not one offered to take me and show me why it could be a fun past time. So, I continued to think it was a boring thing to do. But, in the back of my mind, I was curious about it and really wanted to try it.

When I began dating Ken, and he told me about him going fishing, I said that I wanted to go. His response was, “You like to go fishing?” I quickly answered with, “I don’t know,” and explained my childhood fishing experience. He promised me that one day he would take me fishing.

Years passed and he’d go out fishing with friends and I’d call out when he was leaving, “Bring home lots of fish!” He explained it’s called fishing, not catching. I knew this, but it was my way of wishing him luck. I didn’t know what the odds were of actually catching a fish. I just hoped that he did. I’d ask more often to go out fishing, and he would keep saying soon. He explained that he wanted to make sure that my first real experience was fun for me. He didn’t want it too hot out, etc. I was to the point that I didn’t care.

Well, recently, he took me! We bought me a cheap rod, got my fishing license, and some bait. He found us a quiet place and got my line ready. I watched his every move. I was taking it all in. He cast my line out and I sat in our folding chair and waited. He had already prepared me to not expect to catch anything, so I was a bit shocked when something jerked my rod. I yelled, “I got a bite!” and I reeled like a crazy woman. He cheered me on and was telling me to keep reeling. It was hard! I didn’t realize how strong fish could be. I was reeling and its back fin flopped out of the water, which encouraged me even more to keep going. Then, my line went slack. The fish broke free and my line was empty. But, I didn’t have nothing. I had the bug. The fishing bug. I had five bites that day, but reeled in zero fish. I was okay with that. I had fun. It gave us something to do together and gave us a chance to bond over something new between us.

Since that day, I have asked to go fishing anytime we’ve had a few hours to spare. And, he’s said yes. We go as much as we can. I’ve learned more about fishing, different types of bait, and more importantly, how to cast. I don’t need his help as much anymore. We can just fish together. I no longer find it boring and miserable. It is fun and peaceful. And, I don’t care if I bring home “lots of fish” because, I’m fishing not catching, that’s what matters.

#itsatamithing