Getting slower

Years ago, my oldest son and I were competing in the 10K race at the Good Ol' Days. About a mile from the finish, I told him I was going to go on ahead, and he needed to finish as best as he could. Before I left he said, "Dad, do you know what is going to happen?"

I replied, "No."

He then informed me, "I'm going to keep getting faster and you're going to get slower," meaning that sometime in the future he would be able to outrun me.

Fast forward a number of years. The youngest son and I went fishing, and, having taught both my sons how to fish, I feel like I can generally hold my own. We were over at Stockton Lake last week, fishing for walleyes, and, less than 10 minutes after my youngest guided me to one of his spots, he hooked a nice walleye and then hooked another nice fish. He just couldn't resist stating, "Dad you can start fishing anytime you want to," knowing full well that I had been trying just as hard as I could to catch a fish.

About four fish later, all caught by him, the next zinger came as he said, "You need to catch some fish because the boat is starting to tilt to the side where I am putting them in the live well."

I considered throwing him overboard to balance up the boat and so I would have a chance. He was up front running trolling motor, and, as he hooked another fish, he said, "Maybe I am just catching them all ahead of you, and there are none left by the time they get back to your lures."

Three hours later we pulled off the lake, he with a limit and me with what the little boy shot at. I had the last laugh as he hurried home to clean the fish and I hurried into Stockton where I proceeded to clean my plate at the local restaurant. There is always next time, but I am beginning to worry that this is becoming a habit.