Giving Away Your Soul

Wow, NCKA is such a great group of people.  Your comments have helped me and I am sure others who have read them.

I wouldn't normally write a personal, emotional, story like this but  I was having difficulty dealing with my father's transition, and by extension, mine.  It turns out that writing the story and reading all the comments was cathartic.  There is still sadness but now also acceptence and gratefullness.
Thanks,
John

I have an old steel adjustable gambrel that was left by my grandmother (avid hunter ) that I carry with me always when I'm hunting big game. I know how much hunting means to me and how much hunting meant to her.

It's awesome to think about how many deer have swung from that thing when I've got something hanging. I appreciate it every time I hold it or use it; it really makes my mind work. It always brings her up in my memory and I can thank her every time I use it.

When that salmon rod loads up for you, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

that was a great lil read.

I think of it not as "giving away your soul" but more "perpetuating the stoke" that those items hold.
I've got a fbunch of sentimental goodies like fishing rods, spearguns, hunting knives, etc.
I can hold each one and rattle off stories about the generations before me that used them.

 it is a way to stay connected to those that have ended their field days...

honor them by by using the item, or at least picking it up once in a while to feel the energy & remember the good days they experienced.

Over this past winter I finally took apart, cleaned, and lubed the reel pop gave me.  I was able to take it fishing once at Camanche this spring but didn't get a bite.  Don't know how I would have done if I did get a hookup. It's a Mitchell 308 and a six foot noodle fiberglass rod.  My dad caught numerous 20 inch plus bass and 15 lb plus salmon on that rig.  To me it's more of an outfit I would take to a mountain stream or use on kokanee.
 My father passed away a few days ago.  I feel privileged to have been able to be with him, and help care for him,  in his last couple of weeks of life and to be present at the end.  This post isn't about condolences, we've all suffered losses, but about honoring him.  In his last couple of weeks the only thing that would make him smile was reminiscing fishing stories with my brothers and me. The afternoon before he passed away my brothers and I poured ourselves desert martinis (another story) went into the room where pop lay asleep and reminisced about our time with him.
When we were kids my dad would get excited when my brothers or I would hook a fish.  He would bark out orders: “Keep your rod up!”, “Don't horse him!”, “Tighten the drag!”, etc.  If we lost the fish he would playfully call us a “damn knucklehead”.  We still call each other that today when we fish together.
Most of the stories we told were about pop's Brittany spaniel, Jake.  My oldest brother often tried to talk pop into getting a hunting dog to keep him company only to hear “I don’t want a damn dog”.  On one of pop's birthdays Mike surprised pop with Jake, who was trained and came from champion hunting lines.  Pop was pissed and told Mike to take him back, which of course he didn't do.    Jake was the smartest dog I have ever known.   When in the blind  with pop while duck hunting Jake would give a quiet “woof” to tell pop he saw a duck coming over.  If pop shot the duck he was quick to retrieve but if he missed Jake would give  a scolding bark or two.  Jake would stand at the bow of pop's 14' aluminum boat while he fished the Rogue River and scan the water for fish.  He'd pay close attention while pop reeled in a salmon or steelhead.  If pop let the fish get away Jake was  ready with a scolding bark, probably dog speak for “damn knucklehead”.  They were best friends for over 13 years.
The pic is of pop and Jake 40ish years ago.

thanks for the stories of past.....reads like your father was a very good man,,,and the dog, a very smart one. 

Thanks for posting Oldfart , that's good stuff right there .

Thanks for posting Oldfart , that's good stuff right there .

Yap +1

  Pleasant material there

John - Your tribute here means so very much to me as a reader and sharer of your emotion, and it should mean the world to you too.  Thank you for expressing your heart here with us.  Got me crying while cooking dinner, Damn Knucklehead! 

Thanks for sharing John, that was deep. I fill it

John - Your tribute here means so very much to me as a reader and sharer of your emotion, and it should mean the world to you too.  Thank you for expressing your heart here with us.  Got me crying while cooking dinner, Damn Knucklehead! 

Eric says it best....DK!

thanks man for letting us in.

Bushy