FISHING LINES

The holidays are here again and I find myself thinking back to what seemed like better times. Our country and our economy are in pretty rough shape. These days the only thing we can count on with certainty is lots of uncertainty. I can’t help but think of family members who are now far away and others who are no longer with us. Most of all I think about my father who passed away about six years ago. These days his influence on me is quite clear, I often realize what a profound effect he has had on my life. Like all of us he was not a perfect man, but in many was he was an amazing one. Some of the lessons he managed to pass on are truly invaluable.

As a child living in Poland during World War Two, he witnessed much suffering and death. His formal education ended around the third grade and yet he was a naturally intelligent man who could hold a conversation in five languages. One would think a childhood such as his would create a hard individual, but he chose to be happy. He loved all people and he loved socializing. He had an understanding of human nature unlike anyone I have ever known. The one thing I admired and appreciate most about him is that he was a thinker. His thoughts were uninfluenced and free, he knew how to reason and think for himself. He understood the evils of propaganda and buying into the political nonsense that we are spoon fed. He knew that hate only eats a man up inside and brings nothing but misery to the world. He understood the old saying that “opinions are like rear ends everyone has one and most of them stink”. Most of all, he knew that no matter how intelligent a man was he could never truly be brilliant unless he could think for himself. That understanding is one of the things in my life that I am most grateful for. I realize now that he touched many lives and I feel that he left this world a little better than he found it.

Oddly enough, my love of fishing as in most cases did not come from my father. I don’t think he ever held a fishing pole in his life. I always thought someday I could convince him to give it a try, I think he would have enjoyed it. Unfortunately that never did happen. I have never been one to make New Year’s resolutions but this year I think I will. I want to make more time to fish with my kids, that is how memories are made. Our time here runs out fast, I want to try and leave this world as my father did a little better than I found it. I know my father would have appreciated the Fish Hawks, I know in my short time as a member I have been very impressed. This group could easily get together, do a lot of talking and go home. But there is much more going on here. The collection of canned food for the less fortunate, helping the children of active service members, the refurbishing of rods and reels for kids, and the educating of the whole group about political and environmental issues. I see a club working to leave things a little better. I see a group of thinkers.

I want to thank Jack Henderson, who welcomed me into the group and was kind enough to return my call while he was vacationing in Florida. He also took the time to provide me with an outlet for my writing on the web site, and became myself appointed editor. Thanks again Jack, I really appreciate it.
If there are any Fish Hawk members who for any reason may find themselves alone this holiday season, know my door is open. Contact me and we can share a meal, I will pour us a drink or two, and we can tell fishing stories and have some laughs. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all the Fish Hawks and your families.

Leon Checinski

lchecinski@hotmail.com