HER STORY
Amera helps Grandpa steer the pontoon on a fishing excursion.
Grandpa’s Girl STORY AND PHOTOS BY THERESA JARVELA “Look what I bought for Amera!” my husband announced as he rushed through the front door and held up a pink and blue Barbie fishing pole. “Now she will have her own rod and reel.” And it’s pink and blue, I thought. Cute, but will it catch fish? To me it looked like a rod Ken or Barbie would use. However, I kept those thoughts to myself and smiled. I didn’t want to burst his bubble. Our daughter, Mary, and three-yearold granddaughter, Amera, were travel18 | Her Voice Fall/Winter 2021
AND THE BARBIE FISHING POLE
ing from Pennsylvania to visit us and we couldn’t wait for them to arrive. While my mind wandered to house, meal preparation and fun things to do, my husband had other thoughts on his mind. As far as he was concerned a trip to Minnesota meant one thing — fishing. After all, don’t most 3-year-olds contemplate catching the big one? I didn’t think so. Not long after their arrival plans were underway for a fun day on the lake and when that day arrived, excitement filled the air. After we gathered everything we needed for our adventure we loaded the
pontoon. Grandpa hooked the trailer to the truck and off we went. Lake Edward sparkled under the hot July sun while we waited on the dock ready to board. When it was Amera’s turn, she marched onto and across the deck, Barbie pole in one hand and Grandpa’s hand in the other. As she stood there, grinning ear to ear, I wondered if she would catch a fish or be disappointed. I hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed. Once aboard we headed out to our angling spot. As soon as we arrived, anchors
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