First Memories of Fishing

I have a lot of memories of fishing with both my grandfathers and my father when I was a child. I was very lucky to grow up in one of the greatest extended families on the planet. Everyone loved to camp and fish and everyone loved to invest in their kids' futures. One of the trips that stick out in my mind the most was one I took with my grandfather, Pjoe. I even wrote a story about it when I was a kid, for the young author's conference.

Pjoe had this little Dodge Dakota truck that would eventually be my first car. This truck had the distinct smell of whatever cologne or deodorant Pjoe wore and coffee. Predominantly coffee. He had a little CB radio under the console and about a million oil change receipts in the glove compartment. Pjoe had a habit of saving every single receipt related to that truck. I could never resist opening the glove box of someones car when I was a kid. I was fascinated with secret compartments. I remember how excited I was to be riding in that truck with the boat behind it on our way to go fishing. I was also very nervous because I was worried I would mess up my reel or get hung on something and lose my lure.

The next thing I remember was the boat ramp. To this day I still enjoy the process of putting the boat in the water and the spike of excitement I get when I finally see the water. Even the smell of oil burning and the little slick spot on the water get my heart beating. Even as a kid I enjoyed these simple things almost as much or more than the fishing itself. To be honest I don't remember the fishing that day as much as I do the trip to the lake itself, I just remember that my Pjoe loved me and enjoyed having me go fishing with him. I can't wait to share and experience some of these same memories with my son.

Quotes from Bloodstone

Just finished a book by one of my favorite authors, David Gemmell, called Bloodstone and thought I would list a few quote that really caught my attention. There was another one too, but I can't find it now.

"Man is capable of greatness, love, nobility, compassion. Yet never forget that his capacity for evil is infinite. It is a sad truth, boy, that if you sit now and think of the worst tortures that could ever be inflicted on another human being, they will already have been practiced somewhere. If there is one sound that follows the march of humanity, it is the scream."
-Bloodstone pg 209-210