After the politics, fishing and fathering

A lot of folks in the North Country still ask about my brother Allen, who was featured prominently in a book I wrote a few years ago about rural politics.

Allen is a school teacher in rural Missouri but these days his biggest passions are raising his two boys and getting outdoors.

In an age when most kids are Nintendo-bound, his 16-year-old son David is one of the most avid and talented sportsmen I’ve ever met.

Allen and David keep a marvelous blog, which you can check out here.

Last summer, they managed to hit about half the fishing holes in the Adirondacks in a two-week dash.

But usually they take things slow and easy, with a big emphasis on appreciating each bend of the river.

Here’s a sample of David’s voice – remember, this is a sixteen-year-old:

The fish takes a hard run to the other side of the pool. Then it takes the air, and shakes its head with the fury that only a wild trout can show.

After a few minutes, I tire the fish, and bring him to the net. The pink stripe coursing down it side is pecked with small black dots. This is truly a perfect fish.

I rejoice for a moment at my catch, and slowly and gently slip him back in the water. It was truly a thing of beauty.

I read their blog, in part, because I love the outdoors and I love good, clean passionate writing.

But more than that I love the idea of fathers and sons embracing the kind of deep friendship that so many dads whiff past these days.