Please Lord, just one more fish!
 

I entered the ICU to visit my friend, Big Rich and when he saw me he smiled and raised his index finger - our inside joke meaning “just one more fish”. My thoughts went back to our last fishing trip to Port Hueneme pier. But before I go on, let me tell you a little history.<O:p</O:p
My father-in-law, Richard, was born in 1918 in Pt. Hueneme. Starting when he was about 10 yrs old he would spend summers and most weekends fishing on the old pier with his buddies. He loved to fish! The only days he missed were when he ran out of tackle and would hoe the lima bean fields to earn enough for another several weeks of fishing. He would tell the story of how one day he caught a sizeable halibut that he could barely carry. He paraded down Main St. and all the shop owners came out to see his big catch! As he got older his fishing was greatly reduced when he joined the military to help chase Nazis out of No. Africa, got married, worked, settled in Oxnard, and raised 5 kids. When he was 59yrs he was talking about future retirement and the chance to do some fishing. Unfortunately, he awoke one morning to discover that his arms and legs were paralyzed from Guillain Barre Syndrome. He regained use of his arms but his legs never fully recovered and he hadn’t been fishing for 35 years and always had excuses whenever I brought it up. So, one day last year my son and I “kidnapped” him and pushed his wheelchair out on the Hueneme Pier for one more fish! After a while with no bites his eyes got big as his rod started to jerk like crazy. He fought that mackerel like it was a big game fish and broke into a giant smile as it was landed. He was thrilled and talked about it for months.

pics:Big Rich, his grandson, and me at Hueneme Pier,Big Rich going for one more fish


<O:p</O:p
Big Rich was happy and content when he passed away a few days ago at the age of 94 . After looking at the picture below I wonder if he was trying to tell me that he would soon be going “up stairs” and waiting for us to join him to get just one more fish! <O:p</O:p

One of the nicest posts in a while, hat of to you.

:cheers1:

Your a Class Act! to have one person in each of our lives that care that much and will go the extra distance would be like winning the lottery!

When you take away the egos, the secrets and the chest puffing. This is the true essence of what fishing is all about. Seeing 3 generations together enjoying the same sport brings back memories for me of my brothers and my dad fishing as little kids. I'm sure this is true for a high percentage of others as well.

Thank you for sharing. Slowly but surely my faith in humanity is being restored.

Cheers to you :notworthy:

Thanks for sharing. :)

Thats a sad storry but props to you for getting him out fishing.

Thanks for sharing. Sorry about your old man.

Too cool, he moved on smiling. Priceless.

Thank you for sharing :luxhello:

Heart Warming Story
 

Wayne,
Thank You for Sharing. I haven't seen you out on the water lately. I just made a trade for a trident 15. I haven't got the chance to put her in the water, but I can't wait.
Shared this One more Fish Lord story with my wife. It's very true, what is stated above...that is what makes fishing great. Sharing it with friends and family. Way to go Man!:luxhello: Props. Probably be out there Tues. hope to see you out there. Gotta enjoy this weather while it lasts.

Bryan

I also still have my homemade kayak...but I may be using the orange Trident quite a bit now too.

:iagree: Glad to see there are still good people around. Great story :o

Thanks for sharing. Grounds you to what life is bout. Condolences and thanks for his service (I'm sure he's reading). Great post

Wayne-

Nice sentiment and narrative...

See you soon!

JB

True love
 

Thank you for the morning tears. It made me recall fishing width my father.
A very sincere thank you!:Angel_anim::Angel_anim:

Hi Wayne, a good fishing story. I had Guillian Barre Syndrome 2 years ago. I woke up 3 days after Christmas and could not walk. At one point I was completely paralyzed. I almost completely recovered but many people like your father inlaw do not. I hope to see you soon at Dana

Sorry about your loss wayne. Great post. Even at a mere 94 years, life is short. I'm glad you were able to take you dad out 1 last time. Get's me to think I ought to do the same thing now.. . Why wait, right?

Enjoy the week. See you out on the water.

Thank you for sharing, life is short, live to full...wonderful heart warming post.

Thank you for that. I still fish with my dad. Every chance I get. Priceless

Janine:grouphug:

Great story and thanks for sharing.

My brother in law suffers from the same disease.

Wayne,

Thanks for sharing. 94?? Man he was lucky!!

That is an amazing story. I say it's made a "sticky" so that we can all read it over and over again and remember why we do what we do. Time with family, friends and just being out on the water.
Memories come first, catches are secondary.

Great post. Never had much of a chance to share fishing with my family, but love to share it with friends.

Thank you for posting and sharing!

very, very cool.

Great post. Just one more is I can say. :reeling:

Thanks for sharing. As my dad got older and more debilitated, it took a lot of work to get him on the water, (or near the water). I wouldn't give away those moments for any price.

Great story!! Reminded me of my great grandma who out fished me with a cane pole until she was 97 years old... Thanks

The BEST fishing report I've read in a long time... Thanks

Im glad you made it possible for him to get that 1 more fish! :luxhello:

If that doesnt put a smile on your face and a lump in your throat then
your not human. Thanks for sharing.

excellent
 

:reel: .:Angel_anim:

GREAT read. Put a smile on my face, thank you for sharing!

That was a great story! Thank you. :you_rock: I love taking my mom out on the water with me

Thanks all for your kind responses.
Wayne

WOW!
To think that I almost didn't open this thread...boy am I glad I did.
I can totally relate. A couple of years ago I bought my 68 year old father in law a yak and I now fish with him every time I go...Sometimes he's an ornery pain in the _ _ _ to deal with but at the end of the day I always think to myself that someday he won't be around for me to enjoy. This story really puts things into perspective for me.
R.I.P. Big Rich

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/a...1&d=1358743659

What a great and heartfelt story! Thanks for sharing!

Wishhad one more fish with my dad. Some things get more important as time goes by.

I know when I get older that there's a guy like you,that can take me fishing:reel:
Thanks for sharing:cheers1::you_rock:

I'm sure the above use of my picture of Big Rich for an avatar was thought of as a compliment by someone who did not take the time to think it out. So let's have a teaching moment in regard to use of pictures on any website. Those that think the personal use of others family (or fishing) pictures without permission is doing them a favor might want to take time to consider that most people would take this as an insensitive act and an invasion of privacy. It is not appropriate to use others family members (especially women and children) for a personal avatar. Just because someone shares a picture they took does not imply permission for use or make it part of the public domain. All of my photos are copyrighted and legally may not be used without permission, a by line, and often a fee. Please do not use any of my photos for your personal use. Thank you.
Wayne