If the stories about my dad and I were a TV series, consider this a “spin-off.” Today, I want to introduce you to Grant. Grant is the brother-in-law of Leslie, of the Leslie and Wade season. Not long after Dad and Leslie got together, Grant and my dad quickly became buddies. Their shared love of steelhead and salmon fishing was the superglue that bound the friendship. Obviously I got to know Grant as well, and we all went on countless fishing adventures, primarily on the Sandy river. Many times, when dad couldn’t go for one reason or the other, Grant would take me with him. These outings were great because I wasn’t treated as a little kid, even though I was probably 12-13 years old. I was just his “fishing padnah” for that day. I don’t remember many specific conversations, I just remember, often times we would talk about things I wouldn’t feel comfortable addressing with my dad. It was so cool to have an adult man to talk to without risking embarrassment or retribution from a parent. Over the years, I often think back and realize what an important role he played in my early teens. One summer, he was not working, and we spent a lot of time together. Sometimes hanging at his house in Gresham, sometimes fishing, and that summer he introduced me to tennis. We would go to the local school or park and bang the ball back and forth, it wasn’t tennis yet, but it didn’t matter. I enjoyed it, it was good exercise, with a person I really looked up to.
One time, while at his house, he showed me a little wooden jig he made that was used to make fishing rods. That is, tie the guides to the pole and what not. I was amazed. Having been fishing since age 8, I never heard of anyone making their own rods. He sat me down and showed me how he did it, and let me have a go.
I was hooked, so to speak, and he suggested I make my own rod. So we did it together. Together we built my first rod. Pole, cork handle, guides, thread, and varnish all sold separately. I got to pick the style of pole I wanted, the colors/patterns of the thread( that secure the guides to the pole) It seems like it took a few weeks, working together when we could, and what we created was fucking awesome. The really cool part of that was when I was up on the Sandy, catching steelhead with the pole I made, in front of other guys. I was so proud. I went on to build others by myself, for practice. But eventually, my best friend Greg told his dad what I had done, and his pop called me and asked me to build one for Greg, which I did, and his dad PAID me. What the fuck? I was 14 and making a fishing rod was way more fun than picking raspberries. So, Trey’s custom rod building was born. Yes, it was a “business” but really just a hobby in training. I had a business card, and I had a customer, so I was in “Bidneth” What that meant was, I had access to buy all the rod supplies, as well as all the gear we used for fishing at a wholesale place called All-Sport supply. I could make trips and buy all our tackle in bulk and the fellas would chip in and we all shared in the savings.
I cannot overstate what my relationship with Grant meant to me then. I gained maturity, knowledge and skills I would never have had without him.
After we moved to Beaverton after high school, we all spent less and less time together, and eventually I lost touch with Grant. I actually think about 20 years later, Grant and I found each other on I-Fish, a local fishing website/message board. Later still, on Facebook, of course. I am happy to say that to this day Grant is a treasured friend. We talk/text almost weekly, and I never tire of his infectious giggle that starts while forming a sentence and then turns into a full-blown cackle. Grant drove us down to southern Oregon to see dad one last time, as it turned out 9 days before he died. We have deep meaningful conversations about the heaviest aspects of life as well as the typical dumb stuff. I am sure I am leaving some things out, but he knows what he means to me and I know I have played a positive (mostly) role in his life. At a critical time of my growth and development, Grant was there providing a positive role model.
He was more than a friend, more than a role model. I guess you could say he was a “Frientor” friend and mentor. Yeah I made that word up, I often do. I wish that every young person can develop that kind of dynamic with someone, it’s more powerful when not coming from a parent in my opinion
Grant, I love you, and you are a great man. You helped make me the man I am today.