When I was young at the lake, I would go fishing with my grandad. I could see the lake all around me and nothing else, other than grandad and our boat, while I sat with him on our boat. I remember thinking back to earlier that day and being at my Nana’s. I remember wondering how the fish could be all around me when all I saw was the water. I sat on our boat waiting for the pull my grandad had told me I was supposed to feel. I remember watching the waves, quiet, calm and beautiful. I fondly remember seeing nobody else on the quiet lake other than me and grandad.

When I was young at the lake I sat on our boat for hours. I remember smelling the water on the breeze that hit me in the face. I remember hearing the birds singing their song. I remember feeling the salt on my tongue, not quite there but still in the surrounding air. I remember hearing the sounds of nature, the water, wind, and animals. I remember the feel of the wood keeping me above the water. I remember seeing the clear blue sky above me.

When I was young at the lake, I felt a lot of emotions. I remember the excitement as I caught my first fish. I remember the fear when my grandad warned me of snapping turtles. I remember the nervous excitement that I felt as I felt the pull on the fishing line in front of me. And yet, I remember feeling the breeze pulling my worries away. I was scared, calm and happy, all at once, being there on our boat. I remember starting to feel seasick, homesick and alone even though grandad was right in front of me on our boat.

At the lake, I always liked going back to grandad’s house. I remember feeling the sand under my feet. I remember carefully touching the brown, smooth and shiny scales of the fish we had caught. I remember feeling excited to eat the fish we had caught. It was a soft meaty, juicy taste of fish accompanied by rice. For or dinner. I remember the pride I felt eating the fish I had caught earlier that day.