You DO have a way with words ,Paul.........nice job!
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You DO have a way with words ,Paul.........nice job!
Thank you, one and all! Didn't try and "write anything special", just a record of a great day, with a very special young lady, (to ME).
Sam's like a lot of little 6 year olds, it seems we produce in our high tech, small world society today.......... "6, going on 16" with the way they think and speak and put their own version of "logic" to use!
Sam is the only one, of my three grandchildren, that loves to fish and thankfully, also is fascinated with fly fishing. When visiting, her first "bee-line" in to "find Gampa and go into his tying room", with him where we'll spend hours, looking at books, magazines, or time at the vise.
When I built her, her rod I also cut up a new line and altered it enough to fit her small size and casting ability at the present time. With it, she's practiced and fished, enough, to where she can lay out about 30' with very fair accuracy. "Daddy" bought her, her vest and pair of "mini" chest waders, with felt boots. (I, didn't even KNOW they made "micro waders" until seeing Samantha in hers!?).
I HOPE, that all of this stays with Sam, as she matures and grows up but who knows? She loves fishing with me, and also her Dad and uncles so maybe she will!?!
She's moving away, this summer, to Michigan because of a transfer in his job, my one son accepted. NOT THAT GAMPA BRAGS TOO MUCH, but she's a very special little lady! So, I'm HOPING to go to the MI Fish In, to not only meet the "Insane-o's" of this fine site, but also, I admit...........to maybe "fish with Sam", while I've got the chance.
I too HOPE you are able to make it, Paul.
Paul,
Thanks for sharing! You KNOW I'm a real sucker for Grandkids...and those Granddaughters are so extra special...oh, let's just say Joe Valencic knows me too well!! This story just HAD to be there on St Patrick's day, didn't it?
I hope that if you make it to the Michigan Fish-In that you give us the opportunity to meet (and maybe help spoil) your beloved Sam.
Mikey
Mikey, thank you.
However, I'm afraid you'll have to blame Joe V. for possibly NOT meeting my little 3wt. girl!!
"Grama", INFORMED me, that "If you can make it to that Fish In, in Michigan, with Jason (my son, Sam's father)........ I hope you don't think you two are taking Samantha along to meet that "bunch" you're always talking about, like Joseph, that bread nut and others you've mentioned! I STILL haven't forgiven your friend Joe for getting me involved in making homemade bread again and for trying to KILL YOU with that so called "C.A.R.E. package he sent!
"But, DEAARRRRRR!!! Mike Flanigan, will be there!! HE'S a grampa, too! And,Her Royal Highness-Betty Hiner, whose too young to be a gramaw but she's cool anyway! And Guys like Jack and Warren and....................... .well, they're not ALL like Joe, HONEST!"
"Still, IS JOE going to be there?"
"Well, yeah, probably".
"Maybe, if I can talk to his wife, FIRST, you two can take Samantha with you, but don't hold your breath!"
So, Mikey, at this point in time, that's all I know!?!
Awwwwwwwww, Joey-poo!!
IF, you knew my Linda and her "Red Headed-Irish-sense of humor", you wouldn't "stay home" at all and, instead, be grateful that my bride speaks of you in such "high regard"!!
It's when your name ISN'T mentioned............ isn't ALLOWED TO BE UTTERED inside the walls of our home......... is when you need to begin worrying!!?!
I've also, told my little Sam about you and many other friends, that tolerate me on this site and NOW, since I did that, yesterday, she's been bugging me constantly, about "When are we going to "Mish-gan, Gampa, and see your "rad frin's" Gama laughs about all the time?"
( I, THINK, that "rad" is a good thing? I guess, I'll ask Sam and find out?!)
Great story Paul. They don't stay young long enough.
I know about those precocious grandkids, and some of the things they can come up with. I've tried to indoctrinate some of mine into the fishing fraternity, with marginal success. Seems like they find other things interesting, as they get a bit older. This one could care less about fish now, and a lot more about friends and texting on her cellphone.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m...ongofisher.jpg
I still have hopes for one or all of these three.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m...inaker2004.flv
This one's a niece, but she's up for just about anything you want to do, be it a flag football game, snowboarding, jumping out of a plane, knitting a windbreaker, stalking an elk, flying her grandpa's ultralight, or stretching out your 3 wt.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=Jenbored.jpg
I think that trying to instill a sense of wanting to try new things is one of the most important things we can do toward educating our children. Accepting failures and trying again, is also as important. The younger they learn it the richer their lives will be.
Fly fishing is a great teacher of the concept. Read the instructions. Tie the fly. Make the approach. Execute the presentation. Set the hook. Dadblasted fish refused it again.:p Maybe this one will work?:confused: Aaaah, success!:D
Lew;
THANK YOU! For sharing the family with me, (and all of us, of course!). I LOVE the "3 little Blondies", what beautiful children! And, of course, there's nothing better than that "expression" when they're holding their prize"! (2nd. Picture).
The young chap on th pontoon boat reminds me of my youngest at that age.............. "Looks like he'd rather be in a hog sty than anywhere but on that boat at the moment", but if you could read his mind................ He's having a memory of a life time and will never forget that day"!?? Of course,they can't let on to WE ADULTS, that's that the real case!!haha!! ' Great Pics, again, thanks for sharing!
As for Sam, she's my "fishing wonder girl". My two grandsons, (both older) could care LESS about fishing. But, that's also due in a large part of "parental influence" too.
But, I won't go there right now!
Sammy, when I first took her, at age 4 we "went fishing" but didn't take any gear with us. We threw rocks, sticks and watched a few of dogs that we took along, swim and have fun in the water. We made a boat out of a woven twigs, (a toy boat). Tried to see how thin we could make mud and still ba able to mold it onto shapes..................anything and everything, except actual fishing.
The next time "going fishing" was mentioned, there was a streak of tiny tennis shoe smoke, leading from the house to Gampa's van! The 3rd, trip out, we actually began to "fish". But, we also made things from mud, wove our boat from twigs, etc. Late last year, and so far this year, now, Sam doesn't have time to "play around"..... "Gampa, the fishies might be biting!".
I've only taught her to fly fish, she's never used bait, or lures.
With my wasted youth spent in pool halls it ocured to me that Sam might have hustled Grandpa right off his fishing game by having Grandpa thinking about what Grandma was thinking instead of fishing. Sam out fished Grandpa 3 to 1.