Today is an important day. Several things going on, so let me begin. June 16th is International Waterfall Day. Who doesn’t like to watch a waterfall? My father used to take us kids out camping, often to places that had waterfalls. He loved more than anything, being out in nature, exploring and fishing. He passed that love of wilderness to me, and my brothers and sister.
These photographs are of the same waterfall in Starved Rock State Park-St Louis Canyon. We camped and hiked there often as kids. I still go there. My granddaughter took both of these pictures. First one, during a summer camping trip; and the second on a cold January hike. That day the temperature was +3 degrees. It was quite a hike, but the reward of seeing this frozen waterfall was breathtaking. I am glad to have been a small part of helping to pass my father’s love of nature to my kids and grandchildren.
Today is also Father’s Day-the third Sunday in June. This is the last picture of my father, taken on June 19, 1977. It was Father’s Day. Dad was very sick, and died not three weeks later. He is opening my presents with the help of little brother Hogi. The gifts were Rapela fishing lures. Dad loved to fish. He taught us all to love fishing.
I still have some of Dad’s lures. I also have the open-face reel that he trained me to cast with, and use it today. I live on a lake, and can fish in the back yard. That rod and reel is hanging in the garage, and is always eager to help tempt fish with.
This is a book of my dad’s, “The Complete Book of Outdoor Lore” by Clyde Ormond, 1965. It is a wonderful book about camping, and tips of surviving on the land. Chapter 10 is all about fishing, and then cooking the fish. I read this during Boy Scouts, and with family trips. I learned a lot. Then read it again I when began to camp and fish with my children. I had to re-remember everything I had forgotten before.
I also have the book “Science of Fishing” by Lake Brooks (?), 1933. The title page goes on: “The Most Practical Book on Fishing ever Published. Tells how to catch fish; For those who have caught them, as well as those who never have”. It is part of a collection of outdoor books, on fishing, trapping, hunting topics that were printed by A.R. Harding. I have perhaps fifteen of these old outdoor books.
These books will go to my son, and will stand in his hunting/fishing office. He has already helped his children to have an appreciation of the outdoors by teaching fishing and hunting to them, and they camp regularly. My daughter also camps and fishes with her family and me (though I am more likely to be taking a fish off of the hook, than she is). In fact, her youngest daughter has caught the latest fish from my lake, just a few weeks ago.
I can think of no better way to say “Happy Father’s Day” than by continuing the example of love that my father gave me…by helping my children and grandchildren explore and enjoy, the outdoors that he cared so much about.
Miss you Dad.
Librarytomes 