CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Big men don’t cry. I live by that creed, but even I found a lump in my throat as I watched my son Hank walk across the stage and accept a high school diploma this week.
A flood of memories rolled back through my mind. Sure, he’s still around the house and next fall, he’ll be off to college, but there are certain moments in life where you start to reflect on all of your most cherished memories at one time. A lot of those memories with Hank and my oldest son Travis were spent in a deer stand, on a boat, or riverbank. We not only hunted and fished, but we laughed a lot and had many meaningful life discussions. The woods and waters have always been neutral ground offering a peaceful place to ponder things without outside pressure or distracting influence.
It shouldn’t have been such a surprise for me. When I consider the top memories of my childhood
, a large number of them are with my dad in a deer stand or on a riverbank. I’ve often wondered how parents who don’t go hunting and fishing with their kids make the connection. I’m sure there are other ways, there are plenty of good kids in the world who weren’t raised with river mud in their veins. But for me, it’s the only place where everything is just right.
This weekend West Virginia is offering an opportunity for you to experience what I’m talking about. Governor Tomblin declared Saturday and Sunday free fishing days, the 26th year for such a declaration. This means for two days you don’t need a fishing license in West Virginia whether you’re a resident or non-resident angler. I would encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity and get your kids and yourself to the water.
Statistics show children who start fishing at an early age stand a much better chance of sticking with fishing as they get older. There are a lot of habits kids can pick up and trust me when I tell you fishing isn’t a bad one. Kids who have grown up fishing have skills which will prepare them for life.
Fishing teaches patience. Waiting on a bite isn’t easy. The anticipation can gnaw away at you, but the patience and persistence pays off big when you finally get a fish on the other end of the line.
Sometimes, the fish don’t bite at all and you catch nothing. Sometimes in life, things don’t work out the way you hoped regardless of how hard you try, but that’s no reason to quit casting.
Some days are spectacular and everything goes your way. Once in a while you get bites the moment your bait hits the water and you’ve happened on a feeding frenzy. Cherish the success, but realize it isn’t always going to be this way.
Finally, I’ll paraphrase the actual words the graduation speaker at Hank’s ceremony used directly to the graduates. In Africa, a zebra wakes up every morning knowing he’s got to outrun the fastest lion or he’s going to be a meal.. Every morning the lion wakes up knowing he’s got to run faster than the slowest zebra or he’s going to starve. The point is, whether you’re the lion or the zebra, get up every morning and start running as hard as you can.
Lessons in life from the outdoors cane become treasured memories which never leave you.