There’s a fellow out on the water right now fishing in one of our rental boats who may not make it back.
That was the gloomy assessment of his daughter who, together with a couple of his friends also on board, sighed over the phone when making the reservation that he is dying of cancer: ‘probably his last trip.’
Stooped over his walker, he slowly made his way down to the dock and with assistance took his place near the stern while the others returned to retrieve their fishing gear and picnic lunch.
Since I’m hard-of-hearing and he has throat cancer making speech difficult, I pulled up a chair close to his since, while we awaited the others, he wanted to talk.
‘Many times I fished here on this lake growing up,’ he said. ‘Got my first boat, all on my own, when I was 19.’ He held out his hands to show the size of some of the trout he’d taken.
Said he had his eyes on an outboard but first he’d need to buy a smaller boat since the bigger boat he probably couldn’t handle now.
And all the while he smiled, his bewhiskered face crinkling into a grin as the memories flooded back not to mention his dreams of future fishing excursions.
There’s an ancient proverb I’d read just this morning – and a beautiful morning it is, not a ripple on the water, gently warm – “A joyful mind makes age to flourish,” read one translation. Other renditions say ‘cheerfulness is good medicine.’
I bet that’s true for people dying of cancer. I’m sure it was for this fisherman.
He didn’t have much time to talk, nor me to listen, since family and friends shortly arrived and clambered on board.
‘Who’s the captain?’ I asked, wondering who would need instructions to operate the motor.
‘That would be me,’ my cancer-friend said, smiling. Sure enough, as I hopped off at the end of the dock having steered the large platform boat out of the marina, his hand took the tiller and I stood there then and watched him gently ease away.
I couldn’t see his face, but I bet he was smiling.
Thank you for this story, it really hits home.
That’s what it is David, a story.. An not so even mix of fact and fiction. It is unclear to me at this point how So many key details where lost in translation. This Story was written about my dad and and I’ve tried to make contact with mr. Anderson and got response.
I will be calling the publisher tomorrow and requesting this article be removed and/or rewritten, if David Anderson would like to tell my Dad story that’s great is love that.
This is beautifully written – lines of thought illuminating the passageway between this life and the one beyond.
Beautifully said yourself John!
Mr. Anderson, this has to be one of the best, if not the best, letters you have ever published. You captured two important images, one with Miranda Grace’s camera and one with your camera like words. Amazing.
Your letter is in clear focus for your friend’s last fishing trip.
Should you write a book, this letter should be included.
Joseph Boyle
Thank you Joseph (and David Wilson too). Very kind of you to say so.
What a wonderful story. I get so tired of the negativity and anger this brought a lump to my throat.
Thank you,
Jean Kernen, faithfull reader
Thank you Jean. I hope the ‘negativity’ with which I sometimes write is only because an important truth is at stake.
David – this was a wonderful story; one that left me teary-eyed but grateful for having read it. Beautiful imagery.
Thank you as well Linda.
Thank you David A. Your article was full of emotion for me. I am also one of your faithful readers. Tony T.
Thank you Tony. As difficult as his circumstance certainly seemed to be, he was also certainly enjoying the moment, and the memories.
David…you have such a gift for writing! Thanks for sharing! Judi
As expressed to the others Judi, thank you for saying so!
Thank you so much for the beautiful story. I am the wife of the awesome man you wrote about, and just learn of this story today. The lady with him was a friend not his daughter, but her and her brother made that day happen for him. Though he was only 58, Webb’s fight with liver cancer ended on June 30th. Just a week after that fishing trip. Again thank you and God Bless
David May name is Ryan, your article was about my dad.
I heard you would like to do a follow up story, I think that would be a good thing