Giving Away Your Soul

My father was born on a farm in Nebraska in the '20s and has been an avid fisherman and hunter all his life.  When he was 9 years old he started a trap line for muskrats that he earned enough money from to buy a .22 single shot rifle.  He would bend and sharpen nails to use as hooks for channel cats on the Big Blue River.
After coming home from "The War" he started his own business and worked hard with the intent of retiring by the time he was 40 so he could hunt and fish more freely.  He still took time to go on deep sea fishing trips, hunting trips, and take the family on camping and fishing trips throughout the western U.S. and Canada.  He did miss his retirement date by four years though.
After retirement he and my mom would drive a camper or pull a trailer on hunting and fishing trips all over the western U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  When he was 60 they bought a house with 5 acres and frontage on the Rogue River where he and visiting family spent many days fishing.  They sold it after 13 years and moved back to southern Califorina because of my moms arthritis.   Both of them still lament selling the property.
My dad is in his 90's now and due to age and some botched medical procedures hasn't been able to fish for about 8 years.  Two years ago he gave me his trusty Winchester O/U shotgun.  I could tell he was going through a lot of emotions while he was convincing me to take it and it was difficult to accept from him but he was insistent.  He has been handing off his tools and other personal items on most of my visits since.
This past week when I was down bringing him some smoked salmon and home cured olives he took me out to his shed.  He walks with great difficulty and pain now so it was a chore for him to go the 30 yards.  He went in and a few seconds later brought out his 50 year old salmon rod and reel and held it out to me.  It was the one he had used exclusively for all those years. I didn't take it right away, it felt to me like he was giving away his soul.  We were quiet for a while then he said he wanted me to have it and to take his tackle box also.
While laying in bed that night I cried some.

Thanks for sharing.  I absolutely get where you are coming from.  I'd guess it was a good feeling for him to know he's leaving his prized items in good hands as I'm sure you will do the same down the road.

Nice John, thanks for sharing

That is pretty cool, now go get a fish with it and make him proud.
or just hang it on your wall with his picture.

Wow what a story.. You are fortunate.

Thanks for sharing! I hope you can pass it on when the time comes but make sure to get a few fish on it before that time comes!

Beautiful, John. 

Thanks for sharing your experience.   

Absolutely incredible story, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing that, much respect to you and your father. I can only hope to aspire to succeeding in a life filled with family and fishing, which your father achieved, and is able to pass onto you.

Properly titled. Tools that fulfill our primal instincts are the most important to pass on in my opinion. It's great to have useful items with which to remember loved ones by. You'll have great feelings when using these items. I wouldn't hang them up to get rusty. Touching story, thanks for sharing.

The fact that he has waited for so long to pass them on to you is a pure gift of love. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and priceless memory. Hats off to the fine gentleman your Father is.

That's beautiful man. I'd suggest go out and use it for a day, take a photo or two with some catch from that day. Then frame the photo and put it next to the rod on the wall. Legacies.

The fact that he has waited for so long to pass them on to you is a pure gift of love. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and priceless memory. Hats off to the fine gentleman your Father is.

Well said

I have my dads 1st 22 rifle, I also have his last rifle... He passed a while back but wanted to make sure it was with me before he passed. enjoy the time you have left. i got to spend time till the last and it was worth the sacrifices to do so... Be there. It is still important.

I think you dad knows you will take good care of them. and wants you to pass them down. I just gave my 22-250 to my Nephew. He had asked for it a long time ago. When I gave it to him I had to a sure him. That if I needed it I would borrow it back And I wasn't Dying quite yet. Just needed room in my gun safe. WE all get old and there is a time we give things to watch the person enjoy the gifts.