Fishing. I Love Bobbers.

Lake Pepin

It's almost "Go Fishing Day." One of those bizarre holidays that I love to look up, I'll credit my days of radio show prep for that one. It's one of those things that is just interesting to me. Take for example today's bizarre holidays. Its 1) "National Gardening Exercise Day - where you are supposed to burn calories while digging around in the dirt, and 2) "Yo-Yo Day". Did you know that the worlds largest Yo-Yo weighs 256 pounds, and is on display at the National Yo-Yo museum? No? I didn't either so we both learned something today! 

"Go Fishing Day" is June 18 and it conjures up great memories growing up and spending summer weekends (when us girls didn't have a softball game) in Minnesota at Lake Pepin. On Friday mom would hurry from work and once she was home everything would be put into gear. Start packing.  Swimsuits, shorts, sweatshirts (it was cold on the mighty Mississippi in the wee morn. hours) sandals, and a pair of jeans, just in case of crappy weather. Then the really fun packing would begin. A couple dozen eggs, bread, packages of bacon, Crisco, butter (always Land O' Lakes, thank you) and other necessary food items so we wouldn't starve. Once everything was loaded, us three girls loaded in the truck or car and we were off. Always went the back roads through Charles City (we would stop there on the way home for a DQ) and those little towns that people always wave when you drive thru. During basketball season we beat Riceville on the road to the State Tourney. Riceville is one of those little towns on the way to Lake City. Well, after that season, every time we were driving through my dad would honk. Not once or twice, he made sure people knew we were there. I'll tell you about that story another time. What a GAME!!  We also called Riceville Ricepatty. I know. Not very mature. 

Getting back to "Go Fishing Day". I have so many fun memories from that lake, fishing, boat rides, water skiing.....oh yes. Skiing. A fun topic. My older sister asked her boyfriend (now hubs) Randy to experience our family time. Well, we talked him into trying to ski. He wasn't sure about that one. After all of us pleading with him he decided to go for it. After all, it's like riding a bike, right? You just need to get the hang of it. So anyway he decides to jump in from the side of the boat. Now Randy was a Parkersburg football guy. A muscular guy. He jumps in, and proceeds to go underneath the boat and he ended up clawing at the side of the boat like a wet cat trying to get out of that water. It wasn't a pretty site to behold. He was fine-no need to worry and he has went on to develop his skills. Although to this day I cannot tell you if he skied that day or even dipped his big toe in the water. 

Now I think it was on that same day we talked my dad into skiing as well. He hadn't done that for years, apparently. We were really persuasive that day! He donned not only one life jacket but two by putting on one of those types that are just around your waist.  Randy took the helm and dad lowered himself in the water. We were encouraging him on what to do, because we obviously we experts. Soon he was in place, skies pointed to the sky and seemed to look like he would just pop right out of the water. You know, because that's what first timers do. It had been years but isn't it like the bike riding deal? 

Randy throttled down and she was open all the way pulling dad out of the water. But as we were watching in horror he did a really weird flip and now he was being towed. Head first. And he wasn't letting go of the rope. Oh my gosh it was as if his head was glowing under one inch of water as we were speeding like he was up, gliding on the water. I think his head did glow and it was as if he was aerodynamic in the water. But he still wasn't letting go and we were getting a little worried as we turned a corner. The skies had come off a looong time ago. Finally we slowed to a stop. Dad came up and his head stopped glowing but he wasn't smiling. We tried not too. That, right then and there ended his career as a trick skier. 

So many great memories of growing up on that lake from the fish fry's, to both Grandpa and Grandma Pollock as well as Grandpa and Grandma Becker being with us, to the fun shops and great pizza nights. And so much more in between. And DeAnn's then boyfriend and now hubs Byron would take out his real trick skies and put on a show for us.

Later in life I was so fortunate to be able to take my kids with my mom and dad to that same lake. Casie took her first steps there. Great, great memories. I'm so glad that my grand kids have great parents in Casie and Lane that they take them fishing. I can't wait too either. Although this Grandma won't touch the bait-on the other hand, it's worth it and I'll learn.

Dustin & Casie

Kohle and Dustin

Memories. More to be made. And by the way, we didn't use bobbers. Darn it. They were so cute just bobbing up and down.


Grandma Becker's entry for May 28, 1990 (not today's actual)
"54 years ago today we were in Minneapolis around Lake Harriet. A pretty place. Washed this morning. Beautiful day but quite cloudy by noon. Clothes are drying. Hope they all will. Made macaroni and cheese, salmon patties and salad for dinner. It's "10" o'clock and Gerald is asleep under his newspaper - no mail today - Mem. Day.  Not much news today-went to pick up our flowers. Alberta & Casie were here. Beautiful flowers from Charles and Alan for anniversary.  Called Alan's".


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo 

Melody