2009's Memories

2009 is near its final day.  This year we have experienced extreme joy and happiness and tumultuous shock and devastation.  As we close out the year, I’m going to focus on the joyous moments.

Last New Year’s Eve, I called my sister and brother-in-law’s house in Phoenix, Arizona.  My brother-in-law Glenn answered the phone and I asked,

“Hey, is Camille birthin’ yet?” 

Glenn said, “No, she’s not.  She’s resting, but I’ll let her know you called.”

Turns out that Camille was “birthin’” or in labor and Glenn just wanted to keep us from being anxious.  2009 began with Diana’s birth – Camille and Glenn’s second child.

February 21, 2009 was a long anticipated day and a day that a major life chapter began – THE day Tracie became my wife.  It was a day filled with warmth of two hearts who were meant to be together warmed further by the showering of excited celebration from the heart of family, friends and the people of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church.  The sound of Weatherly’s Handbell Ensemble filled the room with cheer.  Timothy proudly bore a smile of happiness as he walked his mother down the aisle. Timothy and Jasmine sweetly stated, “We do” when asked who presents Tracie to me.   David’s touching words of how it was impossible for this church to quietly celebrate our joining together.  Then there was the reception that overflowed with celebration with the sweat of so many.  I’ll always remember me and Tracie eating that wonderful cake and being immediately surrounded by many well wishers.

There were numerous people we spoke to that day, but there are a few that I want to speak about.  I was driven to tears when the daughter and widow of my good friend Mike Williams - Anna Ruth and Terri Williams -  hugged us saying, “You shouldn’t cry, it’s your wedding day.”  Later on, Leigh Anna Jimmerson just about threw herself into my arms and hugged me so tight I couldn’t breathe.  She told us that she left Tracie a very special gift, a pack of tissue called “Swankie Hankie’s.” 

I am grateful to the people of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church for their outpouring of love as they carried me and my family into a new chapter of being husband and dad.  Togeher as a family of faith, we’ve carried each other through some tough times and loudly celebrated the joys life has brought us.  Thanks be to God.

Greedy Fish at Guntersville Lake

To celebrate my 41st birthday, I took an afternoon off to go fishing at Lake Guntersville.  It was a full moon and the fish were feeding like crazy.  Schools of shad swarmed into the back of the creek where I was fishing. I caught over 25 fish that day, but the two that were the most unique were not caught by a hook, but one fish that tried to catch another by mouth. 

About 30 minutes before sunset, I was in the middle of a largemouth bass feeding frenzy as they fattened up for the winter by feeding on shad.  In the corner of my eye, I saw a fish floating on the surface.  It looked about 2 feet long and was long and skinny. I thought it was a dying gar.  After moving the boat closer, I saw two tail fins on either end of this fish.  I peered closer and said aloud,

"Oh man, that's two bass!  One in the mouth of the other!" 

The "feeding bass" looked to weight about 2 pounds and tried to eat the other bass that weighed about 1.5 pounds. Looks like he got too greedy. With my hands I picked up the two fish out of the water.

I tried to free the stuck fish to no avail.  I placed them back in the water for their fate was sealed.  Then, it hit me, "Wait a minute. When am I going to see this again!" 

I picked the fish out of the water again and lay them in the bottom of the boat.  My camera was back in my truck at the boat house and dock.  After sunset, I headed to the dock got a shot of them. Using my hands a some pliers, I tried to free the two fish, but they were stuck together. Once I released them back into the lake, they swam off in a fury together trying to either get loose or finish feeding.

It's one catch that I will always remember.  What a unique birthday present.