Wetting a Line
Dr. Pfister wrangles a shark (admittedly not from his back pond).
Well, the Governor didn’t shut us down this week… that’s a relief. But finding things to do for fun has been a bit problematic of late. Going to Put-in-Bay used to be relaxing and enjoyable. It was one of my favorite summer family trips. Lunch at the Boardwalk, put-put golf, tour of the caves, golf carting everywhere, great fun! Now, just getting there is life-threatening and, once there, so many rules.
Patients just back from Cedar Point (another of my favorite family trips) remarked that many rides were closed and no verbal screaming was allowed. All screams must be done in your heart. I don’t know if my heart can scream on the Top Thrill Dragster. It’s too busy beating at what I hope is a normal rhythm.
So, over the Fourth, instead of going to one of my favorite spots, we had the nieces and nephews over for a cookout and swim at our lake. And it came to me, while thinking up activities for the day, no better time than the present to teach the kids a new experience. I went up to our attic and got out a bunch of old fishing rods and reels, and we had a good ol’ fashion fishing derby.
Now, I don’t know how long it’s been since you fished, but for me it’s been a while in Ohio. Like riding a bike, you never forget how to work a rod and reel. I went down to Fin Feather & Fur, got new line for the reels, new lures, and some good ol’ stink bait… even got a couple of cane poles for the really lazy fishermen.
Whether you use a spinning reel, bait caster, or just a cane pole with a line tied to the end, trying to entice a bass or bluegill to grab your offering just relaxes your body and mind so well. Watching the really young kids talking and even yelling at the fish to bite was quite humorous. I actually think my five-year-old nephew has a future in sales, as his talking and yelling at the bluegills resulted in several great catches. I had forgotten how genuinely entertaining fishing can be. Watching a young person catching their first fish, giggling, smiling, and jumping up and down, may give Cedar Point’s Millennium or Maverick rides a run for their money.
We spent the better part of the afternoon looking for those “secret” haunts, where the really big ones hang out. Yes, we lost a few lures and a few fish, but the low cost and truly great family engagement with the fishing derby made it a Fourth to remember.
The stories over dinner of who caught the biggest, the most, and even the smallest were icing on the cake of a memorable family event. Thanks to the Covid pandemic, we stayed home, kept it simple, and truly enjoyed ourselves.
This Spring and Summer, Covid-19 has taken a lot away from us, but there are silver linings if you think out-of-the-box and get creative! Even if you don’t think you are a creative person (‘cause you probably never had to be one), you might surprise yourself on how much simple fun and relaxation you can drum up for you and your loved ones…
This Summer, have fun, be safe, and embrace the creativity brought on by Covid-19!
- Dr. P