How I Got Here

This is my story of how I got here. I only wish he could be here to see my hobby now, he would have loved it all!

"Wake up," my daddy whispered in my ear. I already knew what that meant when he came to us before the sun rose on those summer days. The car or truck would already be packed and ready to go. Daddy would feel our foreheads and say, "You feel a little sick, you know what you need?" I already knew what he meant but would play along anyway. "You need some salt air, c'mon before your momma wakes up." And off we'd be, playing hooky from school with Daddy. We knew the signs as we got closer: more palm trees, the marshes under the bridges we always drove over, the heavier the salt got in the air the closer we got.

Half asleep, my sister and I knew the routine all too well. It was off to the Jax Pier we were.

We would get to the pier right after the sun rose, most times before, and stay until the sun set. Daddy would throw out his anchor line. Then set us to work catching his king bait. It was mine and my sister's job to catch the bait for his King line. It was always made into a competition: Who can catch the biggest fish? Or who can catch the most fish?

Now it was a rare thing to catch a King Mackerel off the Jax Beach Pier, but being out there as much as we were, you sure did see a lot of amazing things! From the dolphins playing, to rays schooling and spawning, to sharks and Barracuda everywhere! I even saw a Manatee tail going back under the water one time and was so little that I imagined it could have been a mermaid! Or the Tarpon that took six grown men to handle it was so big. We even saw Giant Manta Rays jumping all the way out to sea, it was magnificent to witness firsthand! What person can say that they have seen Giant Manta Rays leaping all the way out to sea on a regular basis?

At the Jax Beach Pier back in the '90s, we were a close nit group of regulars. Everyone had their own thing they brought to ensure all of us would be able to enjoy an entire day. And did we ever! A few people would even bring tarps out to hang from the second story so that we could sit any storm out. And I tell you, I have seen some storms from off the beach! Storms that I would have taken my kids home during, but not daddy. He knew we were just fine, so we would sit them out. But, don't you go near any fishing poles during the storm! You better leave them out there, line down and all. I have so many good memories of fishing with my daddy.

Just over a year ago, my daddy went into hospice. I went to see him and got him to start eating well initially and they let him go home. But not long after they released him, he was back in. We all knew his time was approaching. I was heartbroken. I was still daddy's little girl no matter what. I can remember trying so hard to go to work after being with my daddy that night or morning or even spending the night with him. Breaking down so many times after seeing the strongest man alive just growing thinner and more nonresponsive.

I knew my daddy did not want to pass in hospice, he wanted to be home. But I couldn't take him home. So, I did the next best thing I could think of: I got him something to remind him of our time together and let him know that I still treasure it all. I got him a beta to put beside his hospice bed and one next to my bed at home. I told him that when I'm not there and he looks at his tank, know that I'm looking at mine right next to my bed just like his. Every time he would startle awake and see his tank, the smile that took over his face is something that I will never forget.

There was a time that mom and I didn't think he even knew we were there. He ended up startling us at some point during the night because he stopped breathing. Mom and I both jumped up and he started breathing again. But I just couldn't get comfortable anymore. I ended up just laying my head next to him to feel his body near me. When my daddy put his hand on my head and tried his hardest to rub my head, I knew, Daddy knows we're here and I know just how much he loves me.

My daddy knew I was there the whole time, his smile every time he saw his beta was priceless. It didn't matter what mood he was in, he smiled at that beta. Daddy passed away one Monday morning while we were all asleep. But I will never forget him. My daddy lives on in my tanks for me. We loved fishing; it was his lifelong passion. Now I keep fish in my house as a reminder of my daddy. The life that lives on. I truly wish he could see my tanks; he would have absolutely adored them!

So here I am now, my passion exploding for my tanks and keeping my daddy alive in them. We as aquarists are constantly learning and I hope that I can share at least a little bit of my endless passion and constant learning with all of you!

Tank on my friends, and may the passion stay with you!