4 Men and a Boy

Last Sunday at 5:00 in the morning I sent my son off on a 14-hour car ride with his Dad, Grandpa and two Uncles across the border into Canada.  Carter had been bursting at the seams for weeks, ready to go and fish the Canadian waters.  He had dreams of catching more fish than he could count and of achieving the ultimate goal -- catching a Walleye large enough that dad would let him stuff it and mount it. (Cal had told him 28-inches or bigger merited a place on our wall.)

It was not without a few concerns that this mother let go of her son.  As I lay in bed the night before, I had many thoughts racing through my mind...so many things that could go wrong...car accidents, sinking boats, hooks in flesh, man overboard, wandering into dark forests, bears, border patrol detaining them in a foriegn land....those were the big things to worry about.  Then there were the little things, such as will he change his underwear, shower, brush his teeth or eat anything healthy for a week?  And will they come home with a stuffed walleye that I will need to hang over my fireplace?

I am happy to say that they returned on Saturday and they all survived and, in fact, Carter thrived!  For a boy who has been seriously bitten by the fishing bug, it doesn't get much better than to fish morning, noon and night. He was in his element as they would beach their boats on a little island, filet the fish on the shore and cook up a meal.  He told me stories of spreading the fish guts out on the sand after lunch so that they could watch the bald eagles swoop down to eat.  Pretty cool!

While the fishing was the highlight of the trip for them, from my perspective the male bonding that Carter experienced is better yet.  I heard a few stories about how Carter has no problem hanging with "the men" and tossing out jabs with the best of them about his Uncle's long-hair, or his Dad's out-of-control beard.  And with no TV or Blackberry service, there was plenty of time to patiently teach the young one how to tie a hook onto a fishing line and other such important lessons.  At times I heard Carter was the life of the party and at other times the paid help.  (Apparently, he was bribed with ten dollars from his Uncle to wash all the dishes while the men took naps.) 

Those are the few stories I have heard.  I've also heard "What happens in Canada, stays in Canada."  And, you know what, I'm O.K. with that.  What better thing could there be than for a young boy to be surrounded by 4 adult men who love him and want the best for him.

So he left a boy and ...well...he returned a boy.  A boy who actually missed his sisters (and they him -- they even admitted it out loud).  A boy who sat nestled next to his mom for a long time upon his return.  A boy who caught some big fish (although none 28 inches -- THANK GOODNESS).  A boy who knows there are 4 men who've got his back.