Select a long slim and straight saplin. Trim the branches off and cut the length to about 8 feet. Whittle the larger end down to where it would accept the frog gig tightly. Drill a small hole through the existing "gig hole" through the shaft. Drive a wooden peg through that hole to secure it tightly. If ya'll wanted to act like an Indian--tie a couple old chicken or turkey feathers on it with a discarded leather shoe lace. Why, ya'll could even paint the dude up rite smart with bright red or blue paint! That is if Pap didn't catch ya'll usin the paint for touch up on the old International Tractor or the Ford two row planter.

Walkin alongside the creek, in the spring, ole jeep and I would scout around for some of those frogs. I remember in the still of an early spring evening we could hear those big dudes a croakin in this little branch. Always wondered where those big dudes had gone when we went lookin for'm. All we ever saw was little bitty baby frogs and crawdads. We wouldn't kill either of those baby dudes.

We would string up a fishin pole, bait't with fishin worms and catch those little "yellow belly" catfish. Always a good and tasty meal if ya'll could catch enough to make a meal!

Pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy, eggs and black coffee all cooked on the old Home Comfort wood cookstove. Seemed the grub was better tastin in the wintertime mornings. Am I just a dreamin or did this stuff really happen!!! Over 50 years have passed since those old days. I think "Progress" ain't always for the better. We NEVER had problems back then with alochol, drugs and crime like we have it today. Young'ns respected their elders--even if the old heads were dummys!

Jesus Christ is coming back for His own. Will you have your bags packed and waiting for Him---or---will you be left behind when He calls "Come up hither"? Eternity is a LONG time. Old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 09, 2001

Answers

I remember reading in an old book cowritten by Townshend Whelen and Bradford Angier who mentioned something about fishing. The book related the experiences of a judge who dealt with cases involving adolescents. The judge recollected that in over 40 years on the bench, he never had a case where the defendant had fishing as one of his hobbies. Just too much time to contemplate your place in the universe to worry about making trouble, I guess.

Nice post hoot, thanks for taking the time to write it.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), November 12, 2001.