I have seen it on several television outdoors and nature shows. But I am starting to wonder if it is just superb, Oscar-worthy acting. Does it really exist?
Can one really go fishing with the calming sounds of nature surrounding you? Can one really catch a fish without a near-death mishap? Do these so-called fishermen exist?
The Patterson family is known for its fishing skills. My husband Jason has caught his fair share of large bass and stringers full of nice bream. I have also caught a few big bass that were worthy of bragging rights. At ten-years-old, our son James has caught bigger fish than some grown men. And our daughter Elsie can show the boys how it’s done with her aggressive fishing techniques.
In our photographs, we proudly show our biggest fish off at the end of a successful fishing day. We are smiling, happy, proud. Maybe a little sweaty from the hot day, but we are all beaming with pride as we take moment to highlight our hard work.
But…in reality, before that camera is brought out, chaos ensues along those fishing banks. It’s a wonder we don’t kill each other or get the deputies called on us.
First, we arrive in true Patterson fashion to our pond of choice. Uncle Jessie-like turns on two wheels is the way we like to make an entrance. Kids are hanging out of windows with enough Kool-Aid in them to turn a battleship around. Fishing rods are flying all over the place among the bobbing and weaving of kids in the back seat. I am already in the fetal position with the deadly horseflies that are gunning for my head. And Jason is bellowing about how me and the kids “need to get it together.”
Thus, we arrive to spend the afternoon bonding and catching a few nice fish.
Jason spends half his time baiting kids’ hooks, untangling lines from trees and taking fish off the hooks. In between casts, I am opening juice boxes and chip bags, followed by taking kids off into the woods for a bathroom break. James is usually stomping across pond banks, spitting and fuming, because someone’s fish was bigger than his. Elsie might abandon her pole all together to make mudpies with her little brother Jase.
And somehow, we usually manage to all catch pretty nice fish. We wipe the sweat off our faces, pick up the empty juice boxes, dust ourselves off from falling down the levee and forgive any previous feuds for a nice family photograph.
We appear to have everything in order, but that’s not the whole story.
That’s how most of our outings and trips go for us. They never go smoothly without an argument or two. They never go as planned. Feelings get hurt. Things get broken.
But there’s nothing wrong with that. It would be too easy, for example, to have a fishing trip without someone falling in the water or a kid swinging from tree vine. There’s no fun in not having some setbacks or surprises. It’s all part of the adventure.
So, the next time you see a photograph of my crew and me with our prize fish, give us a pat on the back. There was a pretty intense battle for that right, I assure you. And I’m not talking about the fish.
