All of my life I have loved to Crappie Fish and be with Family

I joined the U.S. Air Force in 1989 where I served 4 years.

While stationed at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas, I met one of the most wonderful Women in the World

After my Honorable Discharge from the Air Force, we moved to her home town of Paducah where we have raised our Children.
In 1994 I became a member of the Paducah Volunteer Fire Dept.

Being that Paducah is a small town of 1498 people and the only town in Cottle County, everyone pretty much knows everyone. Sports is one of the biggest things in this small town. What I enjoy most is spending time with my Family and teaching my Children as my Parents did me about fishing. Our favorite thing to do together is to go Crappie Fishing.



Since joining the Paducah Volunteer Fire Dept. I have learned a very valuable lesson in life that a lot of people just take for granted. That is to never go to bed mad at one another or leave the house mad. Always say Good Night or Good Bye, and I love you. You see, being on such a small town Fire Dept. most of the deaths I have worked, I have known personally. There is nothing more horrifying than pulling up to a wreck or some other fatal incident and knowing that you know that person involved. What is even worse is when you hear the scream of the parent. That is something that you have to learn to deal with, but something that you never forget, but instead do something we call putting your ghosts in your closet and locking the door. When these incidents happen, the thing I look forward to more than anything in the world is getting home and hugging my Wife and my Children and telling them I love them. The person that just lost the Family Member will never have another chance to say good night or good bye, and I love you. That is when you think, each time before you go to bed or leave the house, that you need to remember to say these things to your Family because it may just be the last thing you ever say to them. My Fire Dept. Buddies are like my Family as well and we also enjoy spending some time together and have been on some fishing trips together as well.

I am in no way a rich man but folks, being with the Wife and Children on the lake catching crappie and enjoying each others company makes me the richest person alive. It doesn't matter if I catch anything or not. The enjoyment of it all is worth everything. The most fun is when my Kids catch the biggest fish and rub it in and laugh because they beat old Dad.

All in all, I mainly want to say to all of you: Go be with the ones you love. Don't just leave them at the house and never take them Fishing with you. Take them Fishing. Enjoy their company. You never know when it may be the last time you ever see them.
 
Gordon Melton
AKA Father of 4