G

Grandpa (Dad's side)

The one who taught us all to fish

He bought the lake house in 1979 with a handshake and kept every receipt since, in a shoebox we are still sorting through. He taught three generations to fish off the same dock, in the same chair, with the same patience. Thanksgiving at the lake was his idea. We kept it going, and we always will keep it going in his honor.

  • Black coffee at 5am on the dock
  • Peppermints, distributed to any child within reach
  • Saying "we will see" and meaning yes
  • The brown chair nobody else was allowed to fix
The dock, 1985
The brown chair
Teaching Dad to fish
Teaching Big Sister to fish

He never once told me to be careful on the water. He just sat close enough that I never needed to be told.

The first time I visited the lake house he handed me a fishing rod before he said hello. I understood later that was hello.

Grandpa let me hold the net and said I was the most important job.