Killing time with this boring rant!!!!!! But its true!!!!

[keeperseeker]

Last year I had decided that I was going to go after stripers like never before. It looked like it was going to be a great season and I was going to get that trophy fish. On my first trip out my son bagged a keeper and I caught a few just short of keeper size. This trip fueled my resolve and I went out with my cousin a week later. We hit our favorite spots and caught some nice fish. I was definetely pumped for the season. When I arrived home, however, I found that my life had taken a bad turn. I had just missed the ambulance that drove away from my house carrying my wife and my stricken mother-in-law who, being blind and handicapped, had lived with us for 16 years. After a quick shower I made my way to the hospital and was there for the rest of the day. It was the worst day of my life. I stood there with my wife watching helplessly as her mother
slowly and silently slipped away from us into eternity. It was hard on both of us, but especially hard for my wife. Neither of us was able to be at our daughter's high school graduation, which we insisted our daughter should attend without us.

At the time we were still unsure of my mother-in-law’s condition and thought that once she stabilized, we could make the ceremony. But she never recovered and slipped into an irreversible coma. She died around noontime but was kept breathing by a machine for three hours while the doctors tested and re-tested, confirming that there was no hope of her recovery. The machines were disconnected at just about the same time my daughter was graduating at 4pm.

It would be almost three months before I would fish again. Never again would fishing be given such a priority in my life. Never again would I leave my four kids home where I had selfishly left them that day so I didn't have to contend with helping them with their bait and tackle.
The next time I got out there, in late September, with my new priorities, my son hauled in another keeper and my daughter caught several smaller fish. My older two were both at college. We had the best time. I no longer identify myself by the size or quantity of my fish. The quality of the time I spend with my family and friends is the "keeper" I want now.