I was reflecting a while back, thinking of fishing through the years, experiences and times of good and bad i had while fishing. On December 17th my Aunt Terri Passed away, she was young at 50 years old. Just died of natural causes, simply put the Lord was calling for her.
My Aunt was the most awesome person int he world. I know many of you have people in your life that meant or mean a lot to you. She was that person for me, like a 2nd mom, or a very best friend throughout the years. She was someone i could confide in, someone I could just talk to whenever i had a problem or anything. She was the most caring person along with being very funny, cause being a dork runs in my family.
My Aunt always took me fishing, no matter how busy she was, she made time to get me out fishing, if it was chasing bluegills, or bass, whatever. She took the time to be with me and get me fishing. Terri first lived on Sanford lake through the mid 80's and they had a pontoon, i was not a muskie chaser then, but i got to go up to the lake stay with her for the weekend and fish my little heart out all I wanted. She lived off the first fill, there is a giant house down towards the end with a enormous wood dock, it is like the 2nd to last house on the side across from the gas station dock, gray colored siding. Her and my ex-uncle built that house back in like 1989.
In 1990, they turned and sold that place for profit, and moved to wixom lake. The were on another canal. They loved boating, as they now had a four winns power boat. But something Terri kept in mind was being on the water, cause she wanted me to have a place to go fishing, we would be out on her dock for hours catching bass, pike, bluegills, and sometimes a walleye here and there. She was on the stryker's marina side as you head north I think it would be 4th or 5th canal on right side, it is a very deep canal about 30ft deep. It is the house next to a newer log cabin.
In 1994 she moved, her and my ex-uncle took different jobs, and both wanted to get a new change of life, so they moved up to kewadin, which is like 15 mins or so from elk rapids, ELK LAKE, SKEGEMOD LAKE…you get the idea. So for many summers when I was in my later teens being able to travel I would take the 2 hour trek to go visit and go out on the clearer water lakes and once again fish with my aunt.
When she passed I was more in shock then anything, you always assume someone will be around forever, and no I am not pushing my faith on anyone out there with this topic, but I will say Knowing the Lord is watching over her does make me feel better knowing we will see each other someday.
Terri was such a big part of my life and she is a person who made fishing a big part of my life, making sure I wouldn't get mixed up in other bad teen hobbies. I would call or email her after a good or bad fishing trip that I had, but this year I won't be able to do that. knowing she is up above looking down comforts me. But also puts things into perspective.
We get pretty out of line sometimes taking fishing too serious, getting mad if someone keeps a fish, it does tick me off, but there are greater things at stake. We should really be thankful for any day on the water, not just ones where we get a fish. It comes down to not taking things for granted. this year out on the water I am going to fish with my dad as much as I can. I know he is 62 now, and you never know what the cards hold. even though he is high maintenance in a boat (bass fisherman) I will just enjoy my time out on the water with him.
Whatever its about being out on the water, its about feeling blessed to be able to do what we do having the opportunity, so make the most of it.