Have any of you had the pleasure of taking your 2 1/2 year old daughter fishing for the first time? Well actually, it was a rock throwing trip more than a fishing trip, but it showed me what love is. Who knew that a little girl throwing rocks into a flowing river would have anything to do with love? I find it so ironic that I used to think I knew what love was. That was before Cameron came into this world though. Since she's been around, things have changed. Hell, I was married for 7 years and didn't have a clue what love was about. I of course would have told you that I did. And I truly believed that I did as well. It's not that I was consciously lying to everyone around me. Not at all. I really, really, really thought I knew. But then I found myself standing next to a flowing river with my daughter, on her first river fishing trip. I was tossing a worm around trying to fool a trout, and after watching me for about 5 minutes, Cameron had seen enough of this "fishing" thing. It was time for rock throwing to begin. And she threw rocks for the better part of 2 hours, while dad spent the time drowning a worm. I was so engulfed in being with her, talking to her, showing her the few trout that I did mange to catch, that I suddenly realized: This is what love is. Not caring that someone was throwing rocks into the water in the place where I'm trying to catch a fish, is love. At least in my weird, messed up perception of the world. There's no doubt about it. There was a time that a little kid throwing rocks into the water where I was fishing would have sent me into a tirade. But not this time. I was as happy as she was, and I suppose that's what it's all about. Although if that kid weren't my daughter, I'm not sure the realization would have been the same. Not to mention the fact that anytime I say, "Cam, do you want to go fishing?" now, she starts jumping up and down screaming, "Yes, Yes, Yes". For a guy who has a fairly serious fishing addiction, this little jewel of information may be better than discovering what love is. She will happily go fishing, or I should say rock throwing anytime that I feel like it. That has to be one of the best things to ever happen to me. Well, to be truthful, Cam is the best thing that ever happened to me. |
