I've seen some posts that are so awesome that I'm compelled to tell my little story here..
I have two girls, eleven and ten years old. I've been asked by more folks that I can count, "Don't you ever wish you had boys?" or "Are you going to try for a boy so you can have someone to go fishing with?" Well, I'm here to tell ya. That's a bunch of baloney!
My daughters have the following accomplishments:
1. Kayla has caught a two-pound bluegill, Daddy's tried for years and hasn't come close.
2. Shelby has caught a twelve-pound channel cat using a cheese filled hot dog that SHE decided would catch a fish, baited, cast and landed herself. Then, being the brilliant tactician that she is, got five dollars out of me to convince her to hold it up for a picture.
3. Kayla has caught and actually EATEN a bullfrog's legs. This from a girl that won't eat a banana if it has a spot on it.
4. Shelby can differentiate between big bluestem and little bluestem.
5. Kayla has convinced her entire 4-H group that it would be a good idea to learn to fish and volunteered "Daddy" to teach the group.
6. Shelby has converted a friend of hers, "Hannah" into a spotlighter.
7. Kayla has had her picture in "In-Fisherman" with a big bluegill not once, but twice.
8. Shelby has taught her buddies how to thread waxworms and is disappointed if she doesn't get to handle the nightcrawlers when it's time to collect the bait.
9. Kayla and Shelby proved, beyond any shadow of a doubt one time, exactly what they're all about. I was fishing a pond out of a little pontoon boat one time and I was a "guide" for my girls. The feeder on the dock went off and a group of channel cats started thrashing at the pellets. As I slowly maneuvered the little boat into position I looked over at my baby girls and what did I see? Both of them leaning forward, almost falling off of the front of the boat poised for the first cast that would reach the frenzy. These girls were RIVETED to their target, in hopes of catching a catfish. This just reinforced what I always knew. It's not whether or not you have a boy or a girl. It's how you treat them. If you give them a respect and appreciation for all of the wonderful things around them, they will reward you a hundred times over, boy OR girl!
I just want to add one sentiment. Having consumed a nice shot (maybe a shot'n'a half) of Jack Daniels...that I'm so blessed to have found this forum. I'm no expert on forums or chat rooms or whatever ya want to call them...but there can't be a better group of people anywhere than what we have here. A group dedicated to the outdoors, to accurate information, to truth. I kind of feel like I know a lot of you. Maybe I'll even be lucky enough to meet of couple of you in person. To my amazement, George Glazener and Norm Kopecky have already contacted me personally to let me know a little bit about who they are. Can you beat that? I've only been a small participant for a mere three months but I feel like I'm part of a family. Keep it up guys (and gals). We're all learning, and we're all the better for it. Maybe in the end we'll all catch an extra fish or two, maybe we'll all know our fish a little more. Regardless, it's something we wouldn't have without this forum. Passion is a hard find these days. I know too many people who are lukewarm about everything in their lives. Not here!
Thanks,
Bruce
