FISHING WITH DADDY by Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages. Her first book for children, “Licky the Lizard”, was released in 2018. She also has a story in the compilations “Heaven Sightings” and “Remembering Christmas”. Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister. She and her husband, Alan, moved from Virginia to South Carolina to be near her son, daughter-in-law and first grandchild. The family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com

Heat, humidity, digging for worms in the backyard and finding lures in the old tackle box were often my summertime experiences when I was a young girl. School was out for the summer. My Daddy worked the night shift and a part time job on some mornings.

One of our favorite activities to share together was fishing. Those hours when he was off from work, he taught me about baiting hooks, watching for the red and white bobbers to go under water, and relaxing at the fishing hole.

Early in the morning, Daddy brought the shovel out and located a spot behind the garage which was perfect for gardening and finding worms. Holding the shovel handle, he positioned his right foot on the shovel blade, pushing down into the moist dirt and turning over the soil. Two or three twists of the black soil and worms could be seen scrambling to get out of the light and back into the darkness. Perfect worms for fishing.

I never liked to touch the worms. Daddy always gathered a few, held them in the air for me to see and then, placed them into a leftover plastic container, which probably had been filled with cole slaw at some point.

After gathering the tackle box, a couple of nice fishing rods for Daddy and a bamboo fishing pole for me, we headed for the car. Loading the car with supplies for the fishing trip, we were ready to go. Daddy in the driver's seat and me sitting right beside him. items. Along with a different kind of bait besides worms, he also brought back snacks for us. Peanut butter crackers and two soft drinks.

Supplies in the car, we were ready to head to our favorite fishing hole at a local park. I smiled the whole way. Just my Daddy and me going fishing.

One other thing was always on the agenda. We had to stop at a bait and tackle shop along the way. Daddy would go inside to get some “other” bait in hopes of catching the best fish. I sat in the car and waited for him to get needed

We arrived at the dock, where we could rent a small fishing boat perfect for our morning on the water. Rental fee was paid. The tackle box, bait and “extra” bait were placed into the boat. Fishing poles and a towel to sit on were the last items to go in before Daddy and I gently stepped into the boat and found our seats.

Daddy used the oars to row us out to specific areas of the pond known for “good fishing”. Sometimes we caught fish, sometimes we went home empty handed.

The best part of the morning was sitting quietly with my Daddy and listening to birds chirping, frogs croaking, and the sound of the water lapping against the side of the boat. At times, we shared laughs guessing what people in other boats were talking about or what kind of fish they were hoping to catch.

A conversation between a young girl and her Daddy. Time to soak in the sun and learn lessons of life. Whether quiet or talking, we shared a special time. I will always remember “fishing with Daddy”.

Summer Fun Photos submitted by Jeffrey Barclay