ONE OLD FISHERMAN

Today we decided to take our kayaks to a mountain lake as part of the day we had planned.

The lake was deserted when we arrived…save for a kindly old fisherman.

 

And his grandson who he brought with him…their plan for the day…their wish…

to stand together on the banks of this beautiful lake and hopefully catch some fish.

 

When the old fisherman saw us unloading he came over and stood for a spell…

It seems, like every good fisherman, he had a few tales to tell.

 

He told us about growing up nearby, how he loved fishing even back then.

He told us how he loves returning to this lake with his grandson…

again…and again…and again…

 

He told stories about his family, this lake and these woods

stories he gathered up through the years…

stories that floated like music from his lips through the air and and into our ears…

 

His grandson interrupted saying, “ Grandpa, it’s time to go fishing.”

and reluctantly the old fisherman walked away

but I had the feeling if his grandson didn’t call him

he would have talked for the rest of the day.

 

And I’m pretty sure we would have listened…

Because when a fisherman tells stories…that’s what one does…

As he walked away we said it was nice to have met him…

And you know what…it really was!

 

Because as we all went off to the lake…they to fish…we to kayak as planned…

I couldn’t help thinking how this days adventure…had been enhanced by this old fisherman.

 

And isn’t that what makes life so wonderful?

How, eventually, we all come to understand

that our day can be made even more beautiful

 

by something we never had planned!


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