Let’s Go Fishing!
By Susan Shanklin
Do you have desire for something? A longing for something out of the ordinary? Just something special you want? Oh, you don’t talk about it much for you might think people think it silly or not necessary? A lot of questions for an opening paragraph!
My Tom had a desire for a looooooooong time. Years, that is. Oh, he didn’t speak of it much. Maybe in a casual statement once or twice a year. In fact I never thought much about it nor really knew how strong his desire was. Tom is a quiet man. He and God are tight. I’m along for the ride.
While reading the Mankato shopper one day last month Tom said to me, “You want to go look at a boat?”
Boat?! For me looking at a boat is like looking at cars on a car lot. Totally not interested. So off he goes.
“Rinnnnnnnnng. Rinnnnnnnng,” goes the land line.
“Hello”.
“I just bought a boat.”
“What?”
“I just bought a boat.”
“What? You did? Really? A boat?”
Ok, Tom bought a boat. A boat!!!!!! I think he said a boat.
I’m a very visual minded person and I was coming up short here in this area….a boat?
Tom returns in a short time…seeing that the boat is just up the road seven miles or so.
He looks a little sheepish and wide eyed all at the same time.
“You want to go get the boat with me?”
“No.”
“Really? You don’t want to see OUR boat?”
“Well, no I’m in the middle of something right now, but I’m excited to SEE it.”
“Oh,” Tom says, “I got to pray for the guy. His health is bad and I led him in the salvation prayer.”
Tom switches out vehicles and off he goes in the old Ford farm truck…the one that smells like mouse pee and has all kinds of ‘guy gear’ on the seat and floor. Stories about this truck could fill a bookcase…but off he roars. The muffler is in need of repair.
He returns with some disappointment and says the ball hitch is wrong size so he has to go to town for a different one.
Well, me thinks….I will ride along and hear all about “the BOAT!” and be a part of my man’s dream.
Off WE roar. Windows down. Dust and straw flying around. My feet straddling tools and a big rope.
Tom chatters about the l6-foot boat, with a 25-horse power motor. It’s older then dirt. It has a depth finder, life jackets, fishing poles, bait bucket and the whole shebang…plus a trailer!
My only question is, “What color is it?”
“Oh, it’s brown, I think, maybe?”
I stay in the truck at the parts store and survey my surroundings. I love to watch people and observe.
I casually note that right across the street is a Culvers. Now Culvers has really good custard ice cream and a flavor of the day.
I squint, but I can’t make out the favor of the day. I really try the whole time I wait in the truck. No radio. Straddling the tools and rope, squinting at a Culvers sign.
Tom returns the next day it seems, and I say:
“There’s a Culvers across the street.”
What I just said, “You bought a boat so could you please buy me an ice cream cone? Flavor of the day in a waffle cone?”
Off we roar and I do get my cone and he gets his boat.
Life is simple if you make it that way.
God does give you the desires of your heart if you wait patiently. He really does!
Off fishing!