| I grew up in Texas and stayed at my | | | | to catch the "big" one. We were ushered into |
| grandmothers' house all week during the | | | | the bowel of the boat for the 3 hour trip to |
| summers. My grandparents loved to go fishing. | | | | the fishing spot predesignated by the |
| They fished, probably, every lake in Texas, | | | | captain. At dawn we were awakened by the |
| before their passing.Vacations for me were | | | | captain and told we were at our destination. |
| going with my grandparents on their | | | | I was actually looking forward to fishing for |
| vacations, which was always a fishing trip to | | | | the "big" one, until I walked the stairs to |
| Lake Dallas or Texoma Lake. George and Billie | | | | the main deck to view more water than I ever |
| were die-hard fishermen. They started before | | | | imagined seeing. There was no land in sight. |
| dawn, in the dark and loaded their aluminum | | | | Immediately, my stomach was in my throat and |
| boat with all of their gear. I usually fell | | | | I knew I was in trouble. I ran back |
| back asleep in the boat and did not wake up | | | | downstairs to use the potty and was greeted |
| until we were at their favorite spot on the | | | | by a sign stating " Go to the side of the |
| lake. I always felt they knew every nook and | | | | boat if you are sick". This made me even |
| cranny the the sand bass or big mouth bass | | | | sicker. There was no way I was going to throw |
| were hiding. We would stay in the boat on the | | | | up in front of 100 strangers. Not today, not |
| lake all day, just coming in for a short | | | | ever.Somehow I was able to hold this sickness |
| break or sandwich and then back to fishing. | | | | all day. We did not catch the big one. A |
| As a child, I loved to fish, but probably not | | | | storm came up and the captain turned the boat |
| as much as they did.When we went fishing it | | | | around and headed for shore. I did not |
| was the norm to bring home hundreds (or it | | | | realize that the captain had been drinking |
| seemed like hundreds) of fish, that my | | | | beer all day and was driving the boat like a |
| grandfather would carefully scale and clean | | | | maniac. Once we were on land, we drove home. |
| to be put into the freezer for a wonderful | | | | It took me two days to get over the sea |
| fish fry at a later date. I wasn't | | | | sickness and to this day I have not been back |
| particularly fond of fried fish at that time | | | | to deep sea fish.I do love to fish on a much |
| of my life. Back in the 50s, fileting fish | | | | smaller scale. I used to think my grandmother |
| wasn't done as often as it is today. Almost | | | | was dragged to the lake to fish. I once told |
| always, I would choke on the tiny bones in | | | | her when I grew up, I would see to it that |
| the fish, even when I was extremely | | | | she had a real vacation. she laughed and |
| careful.Probably one of my grandparents | | | | said, "Honey, I love to fish and would not |
| greatest adventures was the time when my | | | | want to vacation any other way." Until the |
| Uncle Ted took them to the Gulf of Mexico to | | | | day my grandmother passed away, she would go |
| deep sea fish. My grandparents were like two | | | | to her little cabin at Lake Dallas and stay |
| little children in their excitement and | | | | and fish by herself. |
| prospect of fishing the big ocean. They | | | | |
| brought home an ice chest full of fish, | | | | She truly loved to fish!Michele Graham-CEO |
| including a red snapper as I remember. As an | | | | and owner of Professional Healthcare |
| adult, my husband and I were also treated to | | | | Management has 41 years in the healthcare |
| a deep sea fishing trip by Uncle Ted. My | | | | industry. She writes about business issues in |
| husband, who loved to fish as well, was | | | | all businesses and the healthcare field as |
| beside himself.We awoke at midnight to drive | | | | well. She also likes to write about her life |
| to the party boat my uncle had rented, along | | | | experiences. |
| with a hundred other thrill seekers, hoping | | | | |