A Little Girls 8th Birthday Wish

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday! Thank you Susan for
being a lovely Hostess, and allowing me to share
my Outdoor "Country Wings" with you and all of the
Outdoor Wednesday Bloggers. Please stop by and visit Susan at

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A Little Girls 8th Birthday Wish

For Outdoor Wednesday today, I decided to share another family story with you. There was a little girl who for her 8th birthday so wanted a fishing rod and reel. She wanted to go fishing with her Daddy. Now that is just not something that little girls are supposed to want to do, they are not supposed to like worms and frogs and bugs and such. But this little girl, she was a little different she did. Her birthday was just a week away and she had been asking Daddy for over a month for a shiny green Zebco rod and reel. She just knew with this rod and reel she could go fishing with Daddy and she would catch lots of fish. She was convinced, as she had watched her Daddy catch fish like that for years. He just cast his line, and kept reeling, and pretty soon he had a big one on the line. Always a "Keeper". This little girl loved her Daddy, and he was the Best Fisherman in the Whole World. She was convinced of it. She had grabbed the dip net many times over the years. She would ask her Moma for a rod and reel and she would say "no". Then she would go to Daddy, "Pretty please, that's all I want for my birthday is this rod and reel. I just have to have it for my birthday." Daddy never said anything he just smiled at the little girl. Her birthday came and nobody in the family said anything that morning, they just ate breakfast and got ready for school. She went to school, her little friends and 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Hasbrook wished her a Happy Birthday, and ofcourse they just had to ask what she wanted for her birthday. She told them a green zebco rod and reel so I can catch big fish like my Daddy. The boys all thought that was cool, but the other little girls said, "ooh worms, no way, they're stinky." This didn't sadden this little girl at all, she still wanted a rod and reel for her birthday.

After dinner that night the little girl was given her birthday present and Daddy was just smiling from ear to ear. Moma was not so happy. It was against her better judgement, but yes you guessed it, the little girl got her green zebco rod and reel. The little girl squeeled with delight, and the first words were "Daddy, when are we going fishing?" I can hardly wait. "When Daddy, when?"

Daddy said, "We're going to leave Saturday morning at 4am. The fish bite early and they wait for nobody." Oh the little girl had two days to go. Oh boy, just two days to go. Ofcourse Moma did not like the idea, as that meant she would have to go along to supervise and the other kids would have to go as well. Against her better wishes, she agreed, as it was her little girls heart desire. Saturday came, everyone had to wake up early, "the early bird catches the worm." That's what Daddy always says.

The boat was put into the water, the kids were loaded, lifejackets were put on, and Daddy pulled the motor and off they went across the lake. The little girl was sure they must have been going at least a 100 as they were speeding across the lake. (The little girl didn't know about the numbers on her Daddy's motor, it was 35, so ofcourse they certainly weren't going a 100 miles an hour), but her pony tails were flying and she was going to catch a fish.

Daddy had found the perfect spot. Moma is not quite sure, and ofcourse the little girl was so excited she was going to catch a HUGE fish, she didn't really care where. Would you agree with Moma? What does Daddy know about little girls and fishing right? You seeing the story line here?

Daddy, set her line up with a hook and worm and a bobber and a weight (I think Daddy told the little girl they were sinkers.) She cast her line. She left it in the water forever (Moma said it was seconds, but what did she know she wasn't a fisherwoman, the little girl was going to be the first in the family.) She reeled it in. Nope nothing, still a worm tho. She threw it back out. Waited, nope nothing, she went to reel it in, and it was hard to reeeelll. It wasn't working. Moma said she was hung up, could Daddy come see. He stopped trolling the boat, and came back and the little girl was hung up. He yanked a couple of times, and got the little girl uncaught. She cast her pole back out, and Daddy had no more started fishing again, and shoot, the little girl was hung up again. She hollered at Daddy, and here he came again, and unhooked the little girl from a near by log. Daddy said, "Now I am not going to keep coming back here, you fish over here, and stay out of the brush, only Daddy can fish there. If you get caught again, you're done for the day." Well you remember I told you this little girl was not like any normal little girl. She wanted to catch a GIGANTIC fish just to show Daddy she could with her green Zebco rod and reel. When nobody was looking the little girl cast her line into the area Daddy had said not to, and yup, you guessed it, she was hung up again. This time the little girl thought and thought. If I tell Daddy he will take my fishing pole away. She didn't tell him, she just let out some line, and Daddy kept trolling along in the brush. She had to let out some more line, it was getting tight again. The little girl went along with Daddy for quite some time. Pretty soon when she pushed on the line release button, there was no more line left. She quietly said, "Daddy, I think I am hung up." Daddy turned around and could not believe his eyes. All he could see was strands and strands of all of the little girls fishing line hung up and over logs, tree branches and rocks. Moma had to look the other way, she was laughing so hard. No pictures were taken of the little girl or Daddy, and ofcourse Daddy was absolutely speechless, he reached in his pocket, took out his pocket knife and cut that fishing pole line. He took the little girls' fishing pole and it was put into the bottom of the boat, and her fishing days were over. The little girl in this story is me. Daddy, Moma and their friends to this very day laugh about Sherry and her little green zebco rod and reel. I never did catch a big fish, and to this day I continue to try, and to this day have still caught nothing. Daddy does take me fishing when I go home for visits, but I am just no good at fishing. Daddy always says tho, "it isn't about whether you catch a fish or not, it is the company that you share when you're fishing and that you have a good time." I have always had a GREAT time. I love you Daddy.

Thank you all for sharing this Outdoor Wednesday with me. I so love telling you my memories and bringing them back to life. It did happen Outdoors, and I mean who doesn't love hearing about the Big One That Got Away. I love it when you stop by and visit in my little place in the desert that I call home. Country Love and Hugs, Sherry