MIRROR LAKE

Mirror Lake bears that name for a reason. Surrounded by peaks, it is often so calm that you can see the glint of red and brass as your lure sails above the water. I was eleven then as I sat next to my father. Both of us had lines in the water. His line, as usual, was the last to get wet. Before he could fish, he always carefully prepared the poles of several children (Dad has 10 in all). As he tied on weights and hooks, he would teach as he tied saying, "The rabbit runs five times around the tree, then back down the hole". He made sure to use language that a child would understand so that, someday soon, We would be able to rig our own poles.

Suddenly, my line went taught. I sprang to my feet and began reeling feverishly. In a flash, the line went slack and the trophy trout that I had envisioned was gone. I collapsed back to the ground. Fishing takes great patience, something that a child doesn't have. After what seemed to be and eternity, to have a fish on and lose it was devastating. My Father simply reached over and pinched my cheek saying, "I guess you must have just nicked him but we'll get the next one".

I will never forget that moment and hardly a day goes by that I don't call it back to mind. However, it took years to fully understand all the lessons that my Father taught that day. The most wonderful thing about Dads is that, with so few words, they teach us so many things without our even knowing it. I like to regard myself as a person with great perserverance, patience, strength, joy, good humor and intelligence. All of those gifts, amongst many others, come courtesy of my father.

As I raise two children of my own, his legacy props me up. So often I hear people say, "If I could only be half the man that so-and-so was...". I don't look at life that way. I know that I will be a good man and a great father because my Father showed me how.