0ur fishing trip to the boundary waters of Rainy Lake Minnesota/Canada was great! I’ve made this trip every year since 1990 — sometimes with “old” fishing buddies and sometimes as father/son trips. This year’s trip was very special. I was with long-time friends, Carl Gebuhr and Charlie Chapple, and seven of our sons (George III, Bobby and son-in-law Nathan Cluxton were with me).
We were living on a very comfortable houseboat in God’s country with the eagles, beavers, moose, otters, minks and even a few fish. It only seemed to rain at night or when we were back on the houseboat having our freshly caught walleye for lunch. We had great food and great fishing (for most). For the hearty young men there were heated games of poker and Euchre into the wee hours (but the guys were ready to fish every morning). We had plenty of time for bonding and plenty of time for being by ourselves.
As I promised (and my body dictated) I worked in plenty of “rest time.” I couldn’t stand and cast for more than 10 minutes at a time but I actually found that my poor fly-casting improved when I was sitting down. I avoided those card games and was in bed by 9:30 every night. I actually put on two pounds that I can definitely use right now.
On the final afternoon of fishing I was with Charlie who loves “oldies” music so I had my iPod and speakers playing all afternoon. We didn’t catch a lot of fish but both enjoyed just being alive in this wonderful setting (Charlie had some serious lung surgery a couple of years ago). The afternoon was generally cloudy but shortly before we had to call it quits the sun came out. It seemed that at that very moment John Denver began singing “Sunshine On My Shoulders.” In spite of the fish not cooperating, I had the biggest grin on my face and tears of joy in my eyes. I AM SO BLESSED.
Carpe diem — George
P.S. — I booked the trip for next June. 
P.P.S. — The final picture above are the Schaefer members of the Evanston Marching Kazoo Band prior to July 4th Evanston parade. Silly hats are required. I had to take a pass this year but I’ll be back!
