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Posts: 37
| My wife wrote me this letter for my Christmas present. It was the best gift I have received since she married me:
"i hate fishing
I hate fishing. As a kid, I remember going out in a boat with my dad and watching a red and white bobber float on the water for what seemed an eternity. I wanted desperately for that bobber to go under. I wanted to catch, but I did not want to fish. Fishing is a sport for people with patience. I am not patient. When we were dating, I never heard you mention fishing. But there were signs; I should have seen the fisherman in you. Marriage was the bobber and I waited for what seemed like an eternity for you to pull it under.
During the first years of our marriage, the signs of your obsession slowly unfolded. Up early at the cabin or a walk to the boat landing to cast were the first clues that I may have to share you with the sea, but life was filled with other distractions and duties so fishing was put off for another day. I am not sure if the turning point was leaving football or the arrival of the boat, but somewhere some how I felt as if I was married to a new man. This latent passion miraculously blossomed overnight and suddenly our lives were being crowded by Muskies. You explain that fishing filled the competitive void in your life. I understand that; I am the epitome of competitive, but I did not like competing with fish.
I hate fishing, but I tried to make room for it. I even tried to find ways to understand it with fishing themed gifts. I started with lures, not an easy task when it comes to Muskies, but with some help from a few former students and some scary old timers I started to learn about woods and spinners. I even turned a blind eye to the Muskie porn, hoping you would find support in this strange community of fish lovers. I don’t understand how there can be so many nuances (moon phases, weather and baits) to discuss and analyze, but then again I hate fishing.
Last year I thought I would show my ultimate acceptance of fishing and give you the gift of fishing together. It was a great idea in theory. That theory would have to include time away from the kids, which we didn’t have much of and each time we did the last thing I wanted to do was go fishing. I don’t like to let you down and I know sharing something you love with someone you love is important to you. But, I hate fishing.
This year I wanted to surprise you with a gift you would love, but never buy for yourself. So I went to the bible of fishing, the Cabela’s wishing list. I scrolled down the list carefully, remembering last year how I ordered the smallest lures known to man and I knew I had to go big. Now I may hate fishing, but I know how to go big and so I set my eyes on the St. Croix Avid Muskie Rod. I knew it was expensive, but I also know how much you like fishing and so I set “project pole” in motion. My dad would secure the item, so it would remain a surprise. I double-checked with the WWF to confirm that this would be a great gift, but I made one crucial mistake: length. I didn’t know the length of the pole and this mistake cost me the element of surprise, something crucial in fishing. At this point I should have given up. Christmas was less than a week away and this was an omen that fishing and I don’t mix, but I would not let my hatred of fishing stand in the way of supporting your dream.
My next step was to go back to Craig and Scott for consultation. The recommendation was a Fig Rig Flip Back or so I thought until I tried to order one and to my embarrassment realized you had said Tooth Tamer. This time however, I was listening to one essential detail and I knew the length you wanted was eight feet. The perfect gift was with in my grasp, until I called the old timer at Minnetonka Outdoors and he told me I would never find one; they are strictly special order. He encouraged me to get a gift card or order it and give you a brochure. Neither of these options felt like catching to me, but they felt a whole lot like fishing and I hate fishing.
So Wednesday afternoon, I called Grand Rapids. I went right to the source and Kevin assured me could find what I wanted by Christmas. Thursday, I waited paitiently for someone to call. My phone was like that bobber all over again and the more I willed it to ring the more frustrated I became. I was determined to catch something, so I switched lures and called from my cell phone in the freezing drizzle. I talked to Terri who is the real boss at fig rig and she only had a 7’10” in stock, but she didn’t recommend it for Muskie fishing, because it was a medium not a medium heavy. I didn’t know what to do? Scott said your would like the fast action tip and wasn’t concerned about the weight, but Terri disagreed. And then my battery went dead, I had a follow, but I couldn’t hook it and I certainly couldn’t land it in the boat.
I raced up to Keith’s office and breathlessly called back Terri who made a recommendation on what to buy, my mind raced should I buy it if it wasn’t exactly what you wanted, but did the WWF really know what he wanted or should I trust Terri? My biggest question was would it get there by Christmas and she said she thought so, but in fishing just like in life there are no guarantees. So I put my faith in Terri and I tried to set the hook on this year’s Christmas present.
The moral of the story is this: I hate fishing. I hate it more than carrots, or whining or incompetence, but I love you. I love you more than I can say or is evident from my actions. I love you so much that I can tolerate and even embrace fishing. So although your present may not be perfect or even here, know that it came from a place of love for both you and fishing.
Merry Christmas 2006,
Kristin"
By the way, Terri came through and the Fig Rig arrived on the 23rd.
I may be the WWF (Worlds Worst Fisherman), but I have the best wife.
Merry Christmas,
Mike | |
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| Merry Christmas Mike, you are a very lucky man  | |
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Posts: 171
| Great story, Mike. You are a lucky guy.
I have had the great luck of marrying my best fishing partner. The first year we went to Canada, in August, and met 45 degree temps, 30mph winds and lots of rain, she proved her mettle. She fished beside me all day, every day, and clearly enjoyed it. I'm sure I was happier than she was when she hooked and boated a 37-1/2" pike and a 35" muskie on our last day there.
Happy New Year!
Erieboy75 | |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | great present!
Santa left me a big stocking full of Mr. hanky. | |
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Best Christmas Present