BRAGGIN’ RIGHTS
The Early Life and Times of Mans Best Friend
JOE FISHER
The Early Life and Times of Mans Best Friend
JOE FISHER
Authors note: While I certainly could write a million words on this young man, I would be remiss in my duty if I at the very least didn’t give a tip of the cap in the direction of the other forces that make Joe Fisher—His Mother, to which all of his goodness comes from, and his Sisters, whom help maintain his center of gravity. It is because of this that I have been able to observe Mans best friend and hopefully provide some insight into the kid whose pants can’t seem to stay up.
Joseph Ray Fisher came into the world on 11 April, 1992, two weeks late and after the initial shock of his Mother thinking she were to have beget another daughter, she decided he was a “keeper” and decided he would be called Joey. She is the only person currently on the planet that calls him Joey, as he was immediately called Joe by all that know him.
In the early years, everything round was called “ball” and his passion for baseball and the green of the grass summoned him from the start. Soon thereafter his Uncle took him fishing and not only did he take to that like a—fish to water—but his Uncle also taught him the manly rite of going number one outside, a task he mastered after only one try and immediately came home and impressed on all the neighbors on our street with his newfound skill. What we discovered in these early years is that our Joe picked up very quickly those things that captured his attention. His other hobbies include, but are not limited to, Hunting, Golf, and swimming, all of which he performs in an above average manner.
His endearing traits in the 14.5 years he has been in our care are considerable. He has a flair for mirth and merriment, and is a natural comedian. This comes by way of his paternal ancestry, for which we offer up no excuses, just an occasional apology. His temperament in most cases is fairly balanced and even keeled, a trait of his Mother. He is the most flexible of the three children, and as it has turned out, the middle child. The fact that he is the only other male in the group perhaps lessens any middle child syndrome. His willingness to do what his heart and conscious tells him to do is more prevalent in him than his siblings, and he is usually true to word and deed. He possesses the soul of an old man and a keen insight in people and how they behave.
His goals have changed over the years, as his interests have broadened. First, as stated before, was Baseball. He enjoys video games like most young boys, but only plays them when he is trapped inside by weather or illness. And while he stands at the cusp of teen-dom and becoming a rock star, his current goal is to become a professional Bass Fisherman. The strange part of his current goal is that he is awfully good at it and has a fire in his belly for the sport. He has fished in 4 tournaments, won two, got second in another, and competed this summer in the Junior Bassmasters State Tournament in July at Lake Oconee.
There are certainly worse endeavors a young man can pursue and his Mother and I support this to the utmost. However, the fishing shows and their sponsorship have cost me a small fortune in all the right “gear”—alas, things have changed since my days as an angler, with cane pole and a bucket of minnows.
Now, let’s discuss Joe Fisher, the student.
Joe Fisher did fine in the world of academics for the first three grades, and then had some struggles. In typical Huck Finn fashion, Joe Fisher, while a great American 100% Norman Rockwell inspired lad, is no Thomas Edison. His grades suffered up until he failed the seventh grade. While taking responsibility for his lack of performance, it cannot be understated that the culture from which he left grade school into the absolute zoo that was middle school certainly didn’t help matters. Thus, his transfer into Howard, which by all accounts has resulted in Joe performing better. Simply put, he is a kid that requires a teacher to teach, not to resort to the independent learner or whatever the term is. You have to get inside his wheelhouse and get his attention—once that happens, he is like the bass on the hook. If he were to be graded on character, integrity, selflessness, loyalty, and mental toughness, he would have few peers. He is a good boy with an enormous, loving heart.
For almost an entire year this young man endured his Dad being deployed to Iraq. During this time he had to endure the wrath of his Sisters, which makes Iraq pale in comparison. He was the ONLY man in the sorority house, save for one little black dog named Spanky, whose only allegiance was to the food bowl.
His greatest moment in life so far (I asked him) was, and I quote:
“When you came back from Iraq—Hands down.”
Not that it matters, but it was his Dads greatest moment too.
Joseph Ray Fisher came into the world on 11 April, 1992, two weeks late and after the initial shock of his Mother thinking she were to have beget another daughter, she decided he was a “keeper” and decided he would be called Joey. She is the only person currently on the planet that calls him Joey, as he was immediately called Joe by all that know him.
In the early years, everything round was called “ball” and his passion for baseball and the green of the grass summoned him from the start. Soon thereafter his Uncle took him fishing and not only did he take to that like a—fish to water—but his Uncle also taught him the manly rite of going number one outside, a task he mastered after only one try and immediately came home and impressed on all the neighbors on our street with his newfound skill. What we discovered in these early years is that our Joe picked up very quickly those things that captured his attention. His other hobbies include, but are not limited to, Hunting, Golf, and swimming, all of which he performs in an above average manner.
His endearing traits in the 14.5 years he has been in our care are considerable. He has a flair for mirth and merriment, and is a natural comedian. This comes by way of his paternal ancestry, for which we offer up no excuses, just an occasional apology. His temperament in most cases is fairly balanced and even keeled, a trait of his Mother. He is the most flexible of the three children, and as it has turned out, the middle child. The fact that he is the only other male in the group perhaps lessens any middle child syndrome. His willingness to do what his heart and conscious tells him to do is more prevalent in him than his siblings, and he is usually true to word and deed. He possesses the soul of an old man and a keen insight in people and how they behave.
His goals have changed over the years, as his interests have broadened. First, as stated before, was Baseball. He enjoys video games like most young boys, but only plays them when he is trapped inside by weather or illness. And while he stands at the cusp of teen-dom and becoming a rock star, his current goal is to become a professional Bass Fisherman. The strange part of his current goal is that he is awfully good at it and has a fire in his belly for the sport. He has fished in 4 tournaments, won two, got second in another, and competed this summer in the Junior Bassmasters State Tournament in July at Lake Oconee.
There are certainly worse endeavors a young man can pursue and his Mother and I support this to the utmost. However, the fishing shows and their sponsorship have cost me a small fortune in all the right “gear”—alas, things have changed since my days as an angler, with cane pole and a bucket of minnows.
Now, let’s discuss Joe Fisher, the student.
Joe Fisher did fine in the world of academics for the first three grades, and then had some struggles. In typical Huck Finn fashion, Joe Fisher, while a great American 100% Norman Rockwell inspired lad, is no Thomas Edison. His grades suffered up until he failed the seventh grade. While taking responsibility for his lack of performance, it cannot be understated that the culture from which he left grade school into the absolute zoo that was middle school certainly didn’t help matters. Thus, his transfer into Howard, which by all accounts has resulted in Joe performing better. Simply put, he is a kid that requires a teacher to teach, not to resort to the independent learner or whatever the term is. You have to get inside his wheelhouse and get his attention—once that happens, he is like the bass on the hook. If he were to be graded on character, integrity, selflessness, loyalty, and mental toughness, he would have few peers. He is a good boy with an enormous, loving heart.
For almost an entire year this young man endured his Dad being deployed to Iraq. During this time he had to endure the wrath of his Sisters, which makes Iraq pale in comparison. He was the ONLY man in the sorority house, save for one little black dog named Spanky, whose only allegiance was to the food bowl.
His greatest moment in life so far (I asked him) was, and I quote:
“When you came back from Iraq—Hands down.”
Not that it matters, but it was his Dads greatest moment too.
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