This summer, a friend of the family, Karyn, came up for a visit for a few days in July. She brought her 12-year-old son, Robin. It was their very first trip to the great state of Maine.
Back home in the Caribbean, Robin’s dad makes his living as a fisherman. So, Robin, having grown up with fishing in his blood, couldn’t wait to get his lures out and try his luck catching some fish in the pond nearby.
On the first morning of his stay, Robin climbed into a kayak with a bucket, fishing pole, lures, and gobs of enthusiasm. We watched him from the shore as he cast his line out over and over.
But, alas, on that hot, sunny summer day, our dear friend Robin didn’t even get a nibble! At the end of the day, disappointed, he called his dad, and the two of them talked at length about different fishing techniques. Robin was determined to have a more successful fishing experience the following day.
The next day, it was more of the same thing. Another beautiful perfect summer day on the pond and there was Robin at the crack of dawn paddling around the pond with his gear – casting, reeling, switching bait…. nothing.
Day three was much like the first two, but Robin didn’t give up. We even tried a new approach and dug up worms from the field for his hook. Nuttin’!
At 12, I probably would have given up. But on their fourth and final day, Robin grabbed his gear and headed back to the empty pond. He paddled, cast, and cast again—determined not to give up. Still, not a nibble!
And then, the coolest thing happened. Way across the pond, I spotted another kayak. Through my binoculars, I could just make out a fishing pole. Little by little, the two kayaks drifted and paddled toward each other. For more than three hours, they fished together. We couldn’t hear them, but we could see them talking and connecting.
When Robin finally came off the water, he was smiling from ear to ear, with seven nice-sized perch in his bucket! He cleaned and filleted them, made a sauce to marinate them in, and grilled them to perfection. He was so proud and happy.
Later, Robin told us the older man’s name was Chuck. Chuck had shared his fishing techniques, gave him some of his lures, and hours of attentive conversation. I wonder if Chuck knows just how much his kindness and attention meant to our sweet visitor?
Some takeaways from their visit:
Be like Robin.
Don’t give up.
Ask questions. Be patient.
Have the courage to talk to people. You never know who you might meet.
Be like Chuck.
Share your time, patience, and knowledge with a young person. It means more than you know!
Apparently, Chuck doesn’t live locally. But whoever you are, Chuck, thank you! If anyone reading this knows the Chuck who fishes on Pierces Pond, please shake his hand, give him a hug, and thank him from the bottom of our hearts.
“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” – Fred Rogers
Love and gratitude,