The only time he spoke to me was when we were fishing.

So when I knew I had something important to discuss I’d call him up and we’d head down to the river.

The first hour or so would consist of choosing a location, settling in, discussing baits and weights, and then getting our first line in.

Then there was a mandated waiting and staring period. At the water, at the sky, not at each other.

The signal that dialogue was welcome would come about two hours into the day when he’d look over and say “Son, you feel like a beer, while you tell me why we’re really here…?”