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Angels Trees are located in most cities during the month of
December. Usually you will find them in malls and banks, or
large office building lobbies. Someone obtains the names,
ages, and a wish list for less fortunate children. The
items you purchase are to be returned wrapped, but with no
card and definitely not your identity.
It seems every year I had somehow
chosen a girl??™s name. Then, several years ago, the first
card I looked at on an Angel Tree happened to be that of a
young boy. The only thing on his list was a fishing pole
and reel. Well ??“ I yanked the card off that tree so hard I??™m
surprised the entire tree didn??™t crash to the ground.
On this youngster??™s card he said he
lived quite far out in the country and was an only child.
Therefore, he had no playmates other than at school. He
also mentioned they had a pond or lake on their property.
I was so proud of him for having a healthy pastime other
than sitting in front of a TV.
I grew up with a father and two older
brothers and if they went fishing I tagged along ??“ if they
would let a ???girl??? go on that particular day! I remember
starting out with nothing more than a cane pole and a red
and white bobber. What a thrill it was when the bobber
disappeared! To this day I fish any chance I get, and still
get as excited as when I was a child.
Well, I could hardly wait to go
shopping for this fishing gear. Bright and early the next
morning I was off to WalMart. I studied rods and reels
until I knew I had made the right selection. To make sure
the young man would not become discouraged, I opted for a
Zebco reel so he would not encounter the ???backlash???
problem. As I started to the checkout I stopped dead in my
tracks. You certainly need more equipment than the rod and
reel to fish! Back I went and picked out a tackle box, an
assortment of fish hooks, different size bobbers and
weights. Again I headed to the checkout, and again I turned
around. This time I picked out artificial worms, jigs,
needle nose pliers, nail clippers, stringer, and even a
package of stink bait just in case there were any catfish in
his fishing hole. I??™m not sure how many times I actually
headed towards checkout, only to head back to the sporting
goods department. I wanted everything to perfect for this
???fisherman-to-be???.
That evening I started wrapping the
items so they could be returned to the bank. The pole
certainly posed a problem, and I literally had to make my
own box out some old ones stored in the garage. I
understood the need for anonymity, but could not imagine
sending these gifts with no message of any kind. I wrote
this young fellow a note in a Christmas card, which I
slipped inside the tackle box before wrapping it. I told
him of my love of fishing, wished him and his family a Merry
Christmas, and told him I hope he caught ???lots of big ones???
with his new equipment. I also told him even though I was a
???girl??? I had fished my entire life and I was still waiting
to catch ???the big one???. I hoped my words would encourage
him to keep fishing no matter what. After all, that next
tug on the line just might be a monster! As I was wrapping,
I pictured this lad on a beautiful spring day at the ???old
fishin??™ hole???. He was lying on his back, chewing on a blade
of grass, and looking for pictures in the clouds. Yet, all
this time he had his hand on the pole waiting to feel a tug,
and every now and then he would glance at his bobber.
Every year at Christmas I think of this
child and the joy it brought me to help make his Christmas
bright. I wonder where he is now and how he is doing, and
if he has caught ???the big one??? yet. It is so very true
that the joy is in the giving??¦??¦??¦especially if it??™s fishing
gear!
(c) 2003 Kathleene S. Baker
Lnstrlady @ aol.com
I was born in Augusta, Kansas which is
only a few miles outside of Wichita. My childhood was spent
growing up in the country. After marrying a native Texan he
moved me to Dallas in 1978. A large city has a lot to
offer, but I miss the simple life and slower pace. Pets
have always played a huge part in my life and I cannot
imagine a home without them. My hobbies are varied, but
cross-stitching is by far my favorite. Quite to my surprise,
Petwarmers.com just featured a poem I wrote after recently
losing a dear pet. Storytime Tapestries also featured that
poem. I have stepchildren, but none of my own.
Possibly
that is why I have such an attachment to animals. I've
always felt my mission in life was giving love and a home to
these dear animals God has provided for us to enjoy.
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May you be blessed today.
Bob Johnston
Editor / Publisher
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