Dad fishing on an Atlanta spring morning
Tucker, east of town. 7:35am. The sun in coming up, the trees are blooming and flowers are everywhere. I won't mention the pollen. This fine morning I was driving back home from dropping my horde of kiddos at school and passed a small lake at Kelly Cofer Park. There was a fisherman working the shoreline from the sidewalk. This isn't an unusual thing; we see a few anglers there year round. I'm not a fishing guy and have no idea what's in the lake, (other than a MONSTER snapping turtle that crosses the road a few times a year, big enough to stop traffic) but obviously there's enough to get the attention of those that find peace at the end of a fishing rod.
Our angler this morning was well kitted out, with a vest, a box at his feet and the usual floppy hat. But there was another bag at his feet and strapped to his chest was the greatest piece of fishing equipment I've ever seen: his newborn.
I mean a TINY little baby. This little one was in a wearable chest carrier, and the really young ones face inward toward the chest of the parent. The carriers cover and support their little heads, so all I saw were the tiny arms and legs, not even long enough to reach the edges of dad's chest.
So Dad gets up with the sun, gets some alone fishing time in. Gets alone time with his child. And somewhere......somewhere I'm hoping Mom is dead to the world fast asleep, getting some hours without one ear open for her little one, happily sleeping knowing Dad Has This.
If you ever find this, Well Done, Dad.