Around my 11th birthday, me and my dad we were cruising along the highway. My dad’s red truck zips through the gravel streets as we strive to make our destination. Between The Newsboys “Thrive” CD and 20 pounds of Slim Jims we managed in lots of conversation. I enjoyed talking and spending time with my dad. With the tent, sleeping bag, and gear in the back we turned down the dirt path and into my new home for the next 3 days.

My mom and both younger brothers had gone to South Carolina and dad and I were going camping. The siblings and mom decided to stay with my aunt and uncle. We were going to meet up with them later and hang out. So, my dad and I had some time together.

It was my first real camping trip. A “Man Trip” as I liked to call it so, we got everything unpacked and set up the tent. We weren’t to far from the lake, but we still had to walk a ways to use the restroom and showers. I wasn’t going to complain, I enjoyed the campsite. While sitting around the campsite my dad brought me a wrapped package. Amazed and excited, I unwrapped the gift. It was a fishing rod, my very own fishing rod, complete with bobbers, bait, and a tackle kit.

My dad and I did everything the next couple of days from fishing to claiming an island. I began to fish as soon as I got my pole. No luck but, I found a turtle in the bushes and played around with it. One afternoon my dad and I went canoeing. As we paddled through that lake we talked about everything. We made it all the way out to this secluded island. We parked our canoe at the base. We looked around the island and officially declared it Justin Island. My dad inscribed the title on a rock. After that we paddled back and fished some more.

On that trip I learned many things. For one, there wasn’t a sea monster in the lake, as previously thought. I learned the lyrics to “Fad of the Land” by the Newsboys. I also learned that my dad is a genius. “Common sense is instinct. Enough of it is genius.” Says George Bernard Shaw. That is certainly true for my dad. Looking back I learned that when I grow I want to be just like my dad.