Sitting on the dock of the Lake

When I was a little girl, my grandparents lived on a lake in Mount Pocono.  It always made for great summer vacations as we took trips around the lake in our paddle boats, swimming, visited the little beach they had for the community and yes, there was plenty of fishing.  Being the girl that I was, I could swing a fishing rod like a champ but never really could catch anything.  My older brother, on the other hand, had one EPIC day where he and my Grandfather spent the entire day fishing, and catching fish from morning until the evening.  Enough fish to feed us for dinner!  I remember watching in amazement as my brother and Grandfather pulled fish after fish out of the water and threw them into the cooler.  I tried my best to keep up with them yet they were pro's and there was no matching them!  Eventually, it just became a joy to sit with my father and watch the action unfold.  My Grandfather, knee deep at one point, in water, showing off his skills and casting way out into the lake and catching some pretty impressive fish. All I ever caught were sunnies of which I had no heart to keep and always let go.  I guess I didn't have much success because I never wanted to stab a worm either, so I always put a piece of bread on the end of my hook... which most likely melted off in the water and was no appealing to the fish as much as the yummy worms my brother and Grandfather were serving up. 

After the fishing was done, my Grandfather took my brother by his side and taught him how to sheer them.  I watched and he and my brother prepared out meal for the night and attended with my little, sweet Italian Grandmother in the kitchen getting the spices and table ready.  Grandpop cooked the fish on the grill and we ate like champs that night. 

My father would often take us to Mount Pocono to visit my Grandparents on the lake.  My favorite part was sitting on the dock of the lake and watching the Bald Eagles fly by if I was lucky enough to catch one with my eyes.  I remember the loft that overlooked the downstairs of the house that we slept in while we were visiting.  Since Grandpop passed in 1999, Grandmom sold her house on the lake and lives in Florida. I miss that house.  It has made for some wonderful memories and, of course, little moments.