Thread: New Story Contest for Driftmaster Crow Foot System - July/Aug 2013

Well I just want to share how the time I spend on the water with my dad (pop) are good for both of us. My pop severed in Vietnam and when I was a young kid I would ask him about it and would not have much to say about it. My pop and me were fishing one day in late Dec. and duck season was in full swing on Reelfoot lake and we were the only boat on the lake fishing. We were catching some good fish and just out of the blue my pop opened up and told me a lot about the war and how he did not sleep much and he still dreams about the war today. He had been carrying this load of bricks on him for a long time. On trips now we still talk about things on the water and it is just good medicine for him and me. I spend a lot of time on the water with him now and I tell you it is a blessing. We liked to lost him with that heart attack back a year and 1/2 ago and I want to thank all of my crappie.com family for the prayers back on the day. I don't care if it is a friend, kid or family member just take them fishing and before long you will be sharing stories about good times or bad times. This could help them or you more than you will ever know. Jesus called us all to be Fisher Of Men. >>}}}}'>

My pop today healthy and he enjoys our time on the water. Just look at how happy he is because he was wearing me out back a couple of weeks ago.

One might ask, what is considered a virtuous or good thing to do for a loved one? There are many answers to fit this question that is for sure. What comes to mind for myself is simply this, What do we as parents pass along to our children? What values do I instill? The term "Family Tradition" is becoming a scarce and rare thing in this modern day and age with the new generation and our dependency on technology. Many family traditions are left by the wayside or simply forgotten. As I thumb through my photos seeking a source for an article to enter into this contest, a series of pictures triggered this thought above. I decided to write my story about tradition or you might even call it sentimentalism, and how I feel this is something that my kids will reflect upon in years to come and maybe just maybe they will continue the cycle.

My Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather were all great outdoorsmen. Hunting and Fishing was just a way of life, and everyday activities revolved around these traditions that provided food for the family. Now I'm talking way back in about 1913 when this sort of all begun. My Great Grandfather purchased a new Excel 20 gauge single barrel shot gun for "Hog Killin Time". If not mistaken it cost $7 dollars. Well this little shotgun was now a family firearm that would be passed from generation to generation. My Great Grandfather only had one son, and of course he was given this gun upon becoming a young man. My Grandfather later only had one son (my father) whom this gun was also passed along to. In addition it became the gun my father killed his first squirrel with, probably around 1947. Now, my father also only had one son (me), which also followed the same suit and it is this same gun that I killed my first squirrel with as well in about 1979.

It is really amazing to think of the history and family struggles that this gun has made it past, the Great Depression, World Wars, theft, poverty and tough times. Yet it is still a treasured heirloom that is dear to my heart and will never leave this family circle.

Now back to my point. Well here I am and guess what? I don't have Son to pass it along to but I do have two adorable daughters. I made a point to keep this tradition alive! Both of my daughters love to hunt and fish and I try to give them as much opportunity as I can. So I thought it was very special that I was able to take each of them when they were ready to kill that first squirrel, and even more special is the fact that this old shotgun is still making memories. I made certain to tell them this old story so that they might pass it along to my grandchildren when that day comes, who knows maybe I can take them on that first hunt when that time comes.

So, I guess my point here is that I believe the great things that I can do for my loved ones is to keep tradition and family values alive and strong. I know the feelings that come back to me every time I pick that old gun up. I want my children to experience that same feeling and know that someone loved them enough to share those memories with them.

The pics below are from some years past and I really can't believe how much they have grown since this time. Thanks for getting this far along in my story and allowing me to share my thoughts.

well after the trip I took my inlaws on this past weekend, I thought I would show you guys how much the old man enjoyed the day. You can see ALL the pics at http://www.crappie.com/crappie/arkan...fulfilled.html

Thanks Ed for starting this contest. This is the kind of thread I really enjoy and, like someone mentioned earlier, it's not for the prize it's the enjoyment we get from sharing. Thanks again for making this possible.

October 2012 my wife and I decided to embark on a family trip with my parents. The purpose of the trip was a pilgrimage to Aldhart, Tennessee for my parents to see my brother's farm. My brother and his wife retired a few years back and moved there from Florida. I knew my parents were anxious to see his place and basically had no way to get there since they don't drive. Mom is 86 and dad is 88 and she gets around with a walker and dad uses a cane. In addition, dad is legally blind.

After carefully considering all the challenges there would be to take the trip, we decided the best way would be to take them in our motorhome. We made it a two day trip driving up there and everyone was fairly comfortable and the trip was off to a good start. On the second day, I had a mishap with the motorhome. While stopping for fuel, I turned too sharp and the rear of the coach struck a concrete pole! Needless to say that put a damper on things for the rest of the day, but once we arrived at my brother's place the mishap was mostly forgotten.

We all had a great time with the sightseeing, cookouts, and fishing. We even timed it right for a local pumpkin festival. After a few days with my brother we headed to the Townsend/Gatlinburg area for a few more days before heading home. My mom and dad, in their younger years, always vacationed in the Smokey Mountains. When we were kids we camped throughout the area also so they were excited to see the sites again.

After arriving in Townsend and setting up at the RV park we drove my son's Jeep, which we had borrowed because it was a 4 door, to Gatlinburg. On the way there the transmission began jerking and making noises. After a telephone call to the Jeep dealer and, a stop at the Smokey Mountain Knife Works, we drove back to Townsend and the vacation was over.

The next morning we headed back to Florida with a damaged motorhome and a blown transmission.

Even though we experienced some bad luck, we had a great time and accomplished what we set out to do even though we cut our site seeing a little short. Mom and dad still, almost one year later, talk about the trip. So, I'm sure it meant more to them than I realized at the time.

Oh yea....the motorhome's fixed and the jeep has a rebuilt transmission $$$$$

Mom and dad already for their trip

OOPS! My bad...........

My brother's place....mule stalls

Camping in my brother's yard

Mom out fished everybody in my brother's farm pond

Dad held his own fishing

Me, mom, dad, and my brother...coolest old store ever!

sorghum mill... brought back memories for mom and dad

Luckiest woman in the world at the pumpkin festival

Hot apple cobbler and ice cream

After a long hard day

The long drive home

My dad's family grew up in a small town in north central Louisiana. My grandmother was almost 50 when she had my dad. My grandmother had a little brother, Uncle Lewis, that never had any kids. So my dad was kind of like his son. Well before my dad was born, my Great Uncle Lewis ran track at Louisiana tech (called Louisiana Poly-Tech at the time). He ran track from 1922-1925. I graduated from high school in 1987, and received a track and cross country scholarship to, you guessed it, Louisiana Tech. I had a very competitive freshman campaign, but the only major award I won was a college letter. My Great Uncle Lewis actually retired from Standard Oil and moved to Ruston, Louisiana, the home of Louisiana tech. The summer after my freshman year at Tech, I grew very close to Uncle Lewis. He taught me how to play golf and we became best friends, although he was in his late 80s at the time. My sophomore year at Tech, I won the high point award on the Tech track team. Uncle Lewis won this same award in 1923. My coach knew how much Uncle Lewis meant to me and he invited Uncle Lewis to our track banquet to present me with this award. It was truly one of the most special moments in my life. Uncle Lewis always told me that the one race he never won that he always wanted to win was the mile at the conference meet. I happen to win the mile at our conference meet in the spring of my sophomore year. Uncle Lewis was not able to travel to the track meet, but the first place I went when I got back to Tech was to his house to show him my gold medal. He was so proud of me. It made me feel good to see him smile. The summer after my sophomore year, Uncle Lewis died in his sleep. I was asked to speak at his funeral. I was so honored. After I barely got through my speech about how close we had become and how many memories we had shared on the golf course and how many track and field stories we had told, I stepped down from the podium and reached into my suit pocket and pulled out my gold medal from the conference mile, and softly placed it in his hands. I gathered my composure and then the last thing I said to Uncle Lewis was "Don’t worry, I’ll get another one!!" I actually won two more gold medals in the mile at our next two conference meets. I know Uncle Lewis was looking down and cheering me on every step of the way.

This is a pic of me right after I won that first gold medal in the conference mile. I don't miss the medal, but I sure do miss Uncle Lewis, every day.

docwaldo

I went to Tampa and picked up billbob when he was stranded!

In late January of this year one of our northeast fisherman Fred Janiec died in a tragic auto accident. Fred was a humble man that resided in Maryland, but spent most of his time working and fishing in PA. Fred was known by many tournament fishermen, mostly icefishing events, as being a great angler as well as a person with a heart of gold. He also went by the user name of "The Spud" on many fishing forums. Shortly after the news swept our area of the accident, one of our local men rallied the troops to hold a special icefishing event and to donate the the entry money to the MD conservation organization. This event was named "The Spud Memorial" and a spud bar was given away to the angler that brought in the biggest fish. This year we will hold the 2nd annual The Spud Memorial, but it will be bigger and better than the previous. I myself being founder and president of the newly formed Northeast Panfish League just this year, and the gentleman that pulled this first event together is my tournament director. We have decided to make this an annual event and donate the proceeds towards a children's fund dedicated to getting kids involved in fishing for the future. We are so excited to have plenty of time to prepare for this seasons event and we expect it to be a huge success. I know Fred is smiling down on us every time we hit the water!

Great stories & thread. Really enjoyed reading them.