By Tim Romano

Last week my father-in-law sent me an email from one of his friends. A speech a grand daughter gave to her grand father on his 90th birthday. It resonated deeply with me.

I won't ruin it by trying to over-explain it. The paragraph below (from him), helped me understand the back story. I hope you like it.

TR

The bond between a North Carolina grandfather and his first grandchild began 30 years ago. On a secluded and secret stream in western North Carolina, an angler learned, mid-cast, that his daughter had given birth. So he put away his gear and drove seven hours across the state to embrace her. A joyous moment, but after five minutes it was time to go. Back to the water. Back to riffles and pools and holes he alone knew. Over the years, the two shared many a laugh about this story, the essence of family lore. Here is how she chose to toast him on his 90th birthday last week. Enjoy.

The Angler

The Angler walks to the river’s bend, pausing to take in the beauty of the morning and the smell of the crisp mountain air. As he carefully selects a nymph from the rim of his hat, he listens to the stream rushing by him, calling him to wade through her waters and cast his line. His weathered hands tie the fly, as he had done so many times before, fond memories flooding back to the forefront of his consciousness. The rhythm of his cast is all his own, in sync with the beat of his heart and the song of his soul. The fly lands, without a ripple, kissing the sunlit surface of the stream. The line, an extension of his arm, is gently pulled by the flow of the water, becoming invisible to the naked eye and to the rainbows beneath. All the most important virtues of life are embodied in this simple pleasure: the importance of patience, the wisdom of experience, the love of the game, the persistence in failure, the purity of nature, the generosity of the maker above, and the inner peace that forms through connecting to something greater than oneself. The Angler smiles as he reflects on his life, a life filled with family, philanthropy, love, and, of course, fishing. While the hours spent at the river’s edge did not give him fame, nor fortune, they were not spent in vain. He learned life’s purpose, the meaning of happiness, and that a life is more than what meets the eye.

Comments (11)

from Labrat wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Very nice. I have about 42 years before I hit the 90 mark, and my grandaughter will turn 3 this year. I would be quite honored to have that heartfelt said about me.

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from steve182 wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I'll drink to that.

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from Greenhead wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Very nice. Thanks for posting.

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from ENO wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I like toast.

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from GaFisherman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I just took up fly fishing and one of the main reasons i did was to be out on a river and just sitting back and appreciating the serene beauty of it all.

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from chongo70 wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Everybody who struggles with a significant other about why and when and how much time is spent on the water should read this article and have their loved one read it. I think it'll help everybody understand a little more.
I especially like the following little peice... "the inner peice that forms through connecting with something greater than oneself."

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from IowaGuy wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Wonderful story, fishing is truly a sport/hobby/love that can be passed from one generation to another.

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from Linda Williams wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

This is very heart-warming and appealing. Makes me want to have more patience. Thank you!

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from jamesti wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

gives you a whole new prospective of fly fishing from someone else's eyes. going out in the morning and won't be back til dark.

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from yobuck wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Great story!!!!!

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from MLH wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

A woman that understands flyfishing ... and priorities. Her guy's a lucky man.

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from Labrat wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Very nice. I have about 42 years before I hit the 90 mark, and my grandaughter will turn 3 this year. I would be quite honored to have that heartfelt said about me.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from steve182 wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I'll drink to that.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ENO wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I like toast.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from IowaGuy wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Wonderful story, fishing is truly a sport/hobby/love that can be passed from one generation to another.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Linda Williams wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

This is very heart-warming and appealing. Makes me want to have more patience. Thank you!

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Greenhead wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Very nice. Thanks for posting.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from GaFisherman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

I just took up fly fishing and one of the main reasons i did was to be out on a river and just sitting back and appreciating the serene beauty of it all.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chongo70 wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Everybody who struggles with a significant other about why and when and how much time is spent on the water should read this article and have their loved one read it. I think it'll help everybody understand a little more.
I especially like the following little peice... "the inner peice that forms through connecting with something greater than oneself."

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jamesti wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

gives you a whole new prospective of fly fishing from someone else's eyes. going out in the morning and won't be back til dark.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from yobuck wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Great story!!!!!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

A woman that understands flyfishing ... and priorities. Her guy's a lucky man.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.