We’ve all got one. Some of you are one. Some have lost one. I find myself in the latter this year. I can not say it has been easy to find myself without someone to make a plan with this year, but I do have lots of memories of the years past and, of course, all the good times in between the designated day.
In memory, or as my friends say, in my “therapy”, I have been on the lake a lot. Dad took us all to the lake often as kids. We would load up in our friend’s boat and make the 24-mile drive down the dirt road to the lake. Yep. I said “in” the boat. That was way back when, when we lived on a dirt road and road in the back of the pickup truck, in the boat, and even without seat belts. Amazingly, we survived, huh?! Well. I’m not saying that’s how we should do it now. I’m saying we did it then, and boy did we have fun!
We would meet several friends and families and spend the day in the sun on the lake. Oh, man! Those were good times. Dad would make sure I didn’t drown, and then mom would try to untangle the rat’s nest of long hair that was not only wind-blown but wet and, of course, full of briars from hiking the surrounding hills.
Haha! That brings a huge smile and leads me to where and who I am today.
I am a lover of all things Mother Nature has to offer. Because I love her so much and know how much of a healer she is, I’ve been spending as much time as I can enjoying what she has to offer. Because of my fond memories of playing, camping, and a little fishing, I’ve been spending a lot of time on the water.
One day this past week, I caught quite a few fish. None of them are record breakers unless we’re going for the world record smallest, but all fun regardless. I brought them in and tossed them back. They made my day fun and brought a smile with each little challenge of casting into the hole. I smiled with each one I moved. Smiled with each one, I gently brought aboard and gently tossed back.
Thanks, Dad, for teaching me about the lake. It’s been good “therapy” to be there. Happy Father’s Day!!!
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Mia Anstine is an outdoor writer, licensed outfitter, hunting guide, life coach, keynote speaker, and range safety officer, firearms instructor, and archery instructor. She is the founder of MAC Outdoors and Host of the MAC Outdoors Podcast.
Mia Anstine strives to encourage others to get outside, hunt, fish, shoot, and survive life with others in a positive way.
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Mia Anstine
MAC Outdoors LLC
PO Box 31
Ignacio, CO 81137-0031
Oh, yes those were the days.
Yep! Those and many more. The lake’s just been my spot lately. Maybe I’ll head to the river next?