The Fishing Trip

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Abstract

y for everything.”When mom hit me with the news, my first question was “what about school?” I’d just recently become a good student and was actually concerned about fucking up my grades by taking a week off.“Forget about school,” mom dismissed the emotion. “You never get to see your father. I want you to go.”This was way out of character for mom. My mother stressed education and doing well in school. And understandably, she hated my father for what he’d done to her — and for abandoning the family. But somehow, she relented on this occasion — and looked at the big picture. It was a selfless and shining moment for sure!So my brother and I flew down to Florida where we met dad on his yacht and cruised 100 miles to Grand Bahama Island. Not the best part of the trip. I puked for 4 straight hours until we arrived.The next day, we hired a local guide and went ocean fishing. Back when dad was around, we had a boat and went angling often. But mostly, we’d catch one-pound porgies and flounders. Not exactly the big time.But in the Bahamas, it was way different. The fish ranged from 10 to 40 pounds. And we caught quite a few. I also got a real

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ly bad sunburn from which my entire face peeled. Still, the entire trip was a landmark occasion. I got to spend time with my father — and caught some big fish.Upon my return, I got a 72 on a geometry test. I wasn’t happy and went to the teacher pleading my case. I was an A student in the course and wanted her to not count the bad test score toward my final grade.She looked at my sunburned face and made some comment about my going on vacation at an inappropriate time. To which I answered, “I never get to see my father.”I don’t know if it was the look on my face — or the fact that I was one of the best students in the class. But she eased up and didn’t count my one bad grade on report card day.So pretty much — I had my cake and ate it, too. I kept my A rating — I got to see my father for a week — and my mother understood the importance of the trip. Talk about a trifecta! Too bad as I recall that week in my life, neither parent is around to share it with.But ya know what! My brother’s still here. I think I’ll call him tonight after he gets done curing all his patients. I know he’ll remember that week from over 50 years ago!</article></body>

And mom’s best moment

family photo — that’s me in the middle at age 14

My mother and father had their bad moments as parents. And I had more than my share of bad moments as their son. But there was one occasion during which both parents and I hit the jackpot. It was the fishing trip.

Just before dad became a big shot in the music business, he found an 18-year-old stripper with whom he wed while still betrothed to my mother. Yup! Daddy was a bigamist there for a year or two!

After extricating himself from what I’m sure was a very tense situation, my father went on to fame, fortune, and a new life which barely included his old family.

Dad only lived an hour away. But for many years, my brother and I only saw him once every six months. An attentive father he was not in that time period.

But one day when I was 14 years-old, my father called mom to say “send the kids to Florida. I’m taking a vacation on the boat and I want them along. I’ll pay for everything.”

When mom hit me with the news, my first question was “what about school?” I’d just recently become a good student and was actually concerned about fucking up my grades by taking a week off.

“Forget about school,” mom dismissed the emotion. “You never get to see your father. I want you to go.”

This was way out of character for mom. My mother stressed education and doing well in school. And understandably, she hated my father for what he’d done to her — and for abandoning the family. But somehow, she relented on this occasion — and looked at the big picture. It was a selfless and shining moment for sure!

So my brother and I flew down to Florida where we met dad on his yacht and cruised 100 miles to Grand Bahama Island. Not the best part of the trip. I puked for 4 straight hours until we arrived.

The next day, we hired a local guide and went ocean fishing. Back when dad was around, we had a boat and went angling often. But mostly, we’d catch one-pound porgies and flounders. Not exactly the big time.

But in the Bahamas, it was way different. The fish ranged from 10 to 40 pounds. And we caught quite a few. I also got a really bad sunburn from which my entire face peeled. Still, the entire trip was a landmark occasion. I got to spend time with my father — and caught some big fish.

Upon my return, I got a 72 on a geometry test. I wasn’t happy and went to the teacher pleading my case. I was an A student in the course and wanted her to not count the bad test score toward my final grade.

She looked at my sunburned face and made some comment about my going on vacation at an inappropriate time. To which I answered, “I never get to see my father.”

I don’t know if it was the look on my face — or the fact that I was one of the best students in the class. But she eased up and didn’t count my one bad grade on report card day.

So pretty much — I had my cake and ate it, too. I kept my A rating — I got to see my father for a week — and my mother understood the importance of the trip. Talk about a trifecta! Too bad as I recall that week in my life, neither parent is around to share it with.

But ya know what! My brother’s still here. I think I’ll call him tonight after he gets done curing all his patients. I know he’ll remember that week from over 50 years ago!