One evening several years ago I got a phone call from my son, it seems that he and his best friend were heading to the next town over to buy a fishing boat.

I asked, “What kind?”

And while neither knew with any certainty they tossed around the word aluminum and explained that it came with a trailer and a trolling motor.

I was genuinely happy for them, they worked hard, were young enough to have the energy required to maintain a boat, and had a garage that the boat could fit in during the winter months.

Both of them were earnest in their desire for me to stop at the house as soon as I could to take a look at their new vessel.

The next morning and I know it was morning because I hadn’t even gone on my lunch break, I get a text from my boy saying, &l...

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