Well today has been a busy day. I won't go in to all of the reasons but I will say that I have started pulling everything together for the trip. I just spent some time with Jordan on the phone getting some updates on the fishing and our host says that they have been catching 100 pound plus Halibut on a regular basis. I have done a lot of fishing in my 57 years and I have never caught a fish any where near 100 pounds. Do you realize that catching a 100 pound fish takes around 45 minutes? Do you (do I) realize that you are not going to be ready to "go catch another one" right away?
Jordan says he's been doing push-ups and working out a bit to get ready. I told Jordan that our best bet would be to do some "tag teaming"!
With each passing day I think about my dad and I think about Sheila's dad (my father in law). I learned how to fish following my dad around as a kid. He was a very good fisherman, never fished from a boat, had a series of ponds (all the property of his various friends) that he would rotate fishing on depending on the weather and time of year. As a little kid my fondest memories are of all night catfishing expeditions with my dad and my Uncle Jim and Uncle Butch. Dad's gone, Uncle Jim is gone, and Uncle Butch is alive and doing just fine!
Sheila's father was a remarkable man. He was never content to just go fishing, Henry had to design and make his own lures. I am the fortunate and blessed man to have been the very last man to have gone fishing with Henry. My dad - Gene Uselton, RIP - and I talked about going to Alaska on a fishing trip. Sheila's dad - Henry Tippins, RIP - and I talked about going to Alaska on a fishing trip. The RIP (Rest In Peace) came before we made the trip. Henry died in 1992 and my dad died in 1998. So you see, this is special - very special.
So a week from today Jordan and I will be on the water, fishing Alaska. We will be having the time of our lives and we won't be all by ourselves. The spirit and memory of PaPa (Gene Uselton) and Grandaddy (Henry Tippins) will be there with us and we will end the day around the council fires of our ancestors knowing that the mission has been accomplished. (borrowed from the Last of the Mohicans).
Jordan says he's been doing push-ups and working out a bit to get ready. I told Jordan that our best bet would be to do some "tag teaming"!
With each passing day I think about my dad and I think about Sheila's dad (my father in law). I learned how to fish following my dad around as a kid. He was a very good fisherman, never fished from a boat, had a series of ponds (all the property of his various friends) that he would rotate fishing on depending on the weather and time of year. As a little kid my fondest memories are of all night catfishing expeditions with my dad and my Uncle Jim and Uncle Butch. Dad's gone, Uncle Jim is gone, and Uncle Butch is alive and doing just fine!
Sheila's father was a remarkable man. He was never content to just go fishing, Henry had to design and make his own lures. I am the fortunate and blessed man to have been the very last man to have gone fishing with Henry. My dad - Gene Uselton, RIP - and I talked about going to Alaska on a fishing trip. Sheila's dad - Henry Tippins, RIP - and I talked about going to Alaska on a fishing trip. The RIP (Rest In Peace) came before we made the trip. Henry died in 1992 and my dad died in 1998. So you see, this is special - very special.
So a week from today Jordan and I will be on the water, fishing Alaska. We will be having the time of our lives and we won't be all by ourselves. The spirit and memory of PaPa (Gene Uselton) and Grandaddy (Henry Tippins) will be there with us and we will end the day around the council fires of our ancestors knowing that the mission has been accomplished. (borrowed from the Last of the Mohicans).
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