Fishing with Lou

Calm waters, bonding time, thrill of the pull. Yeah, I have no interest in fishing. Seriously.
My Uncle Lou passed away when I was 10. Unfortunately, I only have vague memories of him. My uncle fought in World War II, marched in the Mummers Parade, and was a September call up for the Philadelphia A’s.
Uncle Lou was the type of uncle that would buy you ice cream even though you were about to go home and eat dinner. He was the uncle who would come to your baseball games. He was the uncle who would make every trip seem interesting.
And he was the fisherman of the family. My father could get sea sick during a long bath. So, if my brothers or I were to go fishing, it would be because Uncle Lou took us. However, the majority of the fishing trips were for my two oldest brothers. I was too young or at least that is what I was told.
One day my next older brother, NG (by two years) and I were playing with our new fishing rods that Uncle Lou bought for us. It was a particularly slow summer day. NG and I stood next to each other in front of our house. We were in competition as brothers always are. The goal was to see who could cast their line further. I don’t remember who won, but I do remember it made me want to go fishing.
Eventually, Uncle Lou decided that NG & I were old enough to go fishing. And I caught a fish. Well, sort of. I had a bite on my line and pulled it in under Uncle Lou’s tutelage. I was excited and dreamed of telling my older brothers about my big catch. So after a moment, the fish became visible – barely. The fish was no more than six ounces and three inches and bloodied from the fight with my line. The pathetic thing eventually fell off my line – becoming lunch for some other sea animal.
Shortly, thereafter Uncle Lou called it a day. The fish weren’t biting, and the weather was ominous. We stopped at a diner on the way home. Uncle Lou congratulated me on my near catch and told NG he would do better next time.
Unfortunately, there was no next time with Uncle Lou. He died rather suddenly leaving everyone sad. He was one of the good ones.
Anyway my next and last fishing trip was just an excuse to drink beer with a couple of friends. Oh well.

This was a semi-elaborate way of saying I am taking a break from blogging. You know like they say – I’m gone fishing. I don’t where that term comes from. I’m sure I cold Google it, and I just might eventually. Anyway, I won’t be posting for the next week to 10 days. I need a break. I just might pop on WordPress and make some comments, and I might not. The lack of commitment. I am a guy you know.
Lastly, I want to wish Happy Holidays to all of you who will be celebrating Christmas next week. May it be a wonderful, peaceful, and joyous holiday.

47 thoughts on “Fishing with Lou

    • I will enjoy the time away. I hope to do some other writing and take some space.
      In terms of you getting away, do what you have to do. The blog is supposed to be a want to and not a have to. Sometimes it does not feel that way.

  1. Mr. T and I go fishing pretty often, it helps we have a lake a few minutes away. I love to fish (Okay, I love to cast my line, I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever actually caught one of those things!). Enjoy the break, but Ack! I’ll miss your blogs! Happy Hanukkah! I’m not-very-patiently awaiting Christmas, I’ll put up with my family in exchange for presents!

    • In theory, I’d like fishing but I never got into it.
      Funny what you say about the holiday. A real family person! I hope the presents are worth it.
      Thanks for missing the blog – good for my ego.

  2. I read all of your blogs but haven’t made a comment in quite a while. But I couldn’t let this one go by without making one. Uncle Lou was certainly “one of the good guys”. Some of my best childhood memories are of fishing with uncle Lou or being with him on other excursions. Thanks for the reminder!

  3. I just realized in reading your post today (I’m a little behind on my reading) that I posted my last post on the 20th as well. I had no intention of taking a break, but every time I sit down to write, I just don’t want to. I guess I needed a break, too. Maybe we’ll get back at it in the new year. All the best to you and your family for a safe, happy, and healthy 2013!

    • The break has been good. I have still popped on and commented on some blogs. However, blog writing has been off limits though ideas have come up. I hope it will be a positive when I start up again.
      Thanks for the New Year wishes and the same to you and your family.

  4. Hi,
    It is so good to be able to recognize when you need a break and then take it. I congratulate you. I have just read your first blog since the break, (before I read this one) and I can say your break did you good.
    I have made it a habit the past few months to not go on computer on Sundays unless I have to, and I do mean have to. That means it is an all out emergency. When I go in my office on Mondays, I take my time, and enter into the week slowly, and I make a habit now of using Wednesdays as the day when I go into my office around 11 am or noontime and I feel so much better.

    We as writers need time to shut down. We need to rest. If we don’t, we dry out.

    So, congratulations on doing the right thing.

    Ciao,
    Patricia

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