When I was young at Lake Erie, I remember when we first got there after the really long 3-hour drive. I really wanted to go fishing, so I helped unpack and bring everything into the cottage. When we finished unpacking and getting settled in. I really wanted to go fishing and couldn’t wait any longer, so I remember that I went to the shed to grab the fishing rod and I put the fish bait on the hook. I would cast it out, and then I would have to play the waiting game. Not only that, but I waited and waited and would often get frustrated, driving 2–3 hours to come to the cottage and enjoy Lake Erie and go fishing, I was not catching anything at all. It was a good thing we were spending all weekend there, so I had 2 more days to try and catch something.

When I was young at the lake, I remember seeing these huge scaly fish. When I stepped outside in the backyard, all I could see was this little river that led out to the bay, the bay was this huge area of freshwater. It smelled weird and fishy, just like a normal bay, when I touched the water it was so cold, and then it would feel a lot colder than I had originally thought it was going to be. I remember sitting down on the dock added to the end of our backyard backing into the lake and just listening to everything. I could hear fish jumping up and splashing back into the water, and people, and birds chirping and the wind slowly moving the water. It sounded so peaceful and quiet.

When I was young at the lake, I felt at ease, peaceful, calm and happy all at once. I felt as if there was no pressure on me to be this kid who everyone was supposed to like, this good role model to the younger brother. This kid who had many responsibilities, to help around the house and more. It felt as if I could take a break from doing all of those things and I could just sit and relax. Enjoy myself and not have to do anything other than just sit there and do absolutely nothing because these expectations were not being upheld right now. That I could just do whatever I wanted to and just be free.

At the lake, I always remember the day I went fishing with my dad and I had finally caught something other than the stupid seaweed. When I reeled the line back in, I saw that it was this huge bass, but it was around lunchtime. My dad had gone inside to go get some BBQ sauce for the burgers, as well as fresh hot dog and hamburger buns and some delicious cheese. My mom was cleaning the cottage and making it spotless and as usual my brother was watching TV anywhere he went. I couldn’t just let this fish die. Even though it was this gross and slimy and wet thing so, I had to take the fish off myself even though I was really freaked out about taking it off because of how the fish felt. It just felt really gross and something that just felt really weird to touch. The first time, I tried to grab the fish, so I could take it off it poked me, with these spiky sharp fins going down its back. I tried again and this time I got it off the hook. By the time I had taken the fish off the hook, my dad had come back outside to finish cooking, but I’m pretty sure they were burnt and flaky on the bottom. When he came back out, I showed him that I had taken that gross, unusual creature off the hook by myself. He looked really shocked but also really proud that I had taken it off, shocked because I always make him take off the fish because I don’t like to. Even though I ended up getting the hook stuck in my hand while trying to take it off, I got the fish off and the hook out of my hand. I can’t wait to do it again next year.