The Magical Pond

About the Book

FISHING IS A UNIVERSAL SPORT AND HAS BEEN ENJOYED BY THE VERY YOUNG AND THE VERY OLD SINCE TIME BEGAN. THIS STORY ABOUT THE MAGICAL POND WAS WRITTEN LITTLE BY LITTLE OVER A NINE YEAR PERIOD.

THE READER WILL APPRECIATE WHY THE MAGICAL POND WAS SO MAGICAL. THE SUBJECT OF THIS SHORT STORY IS JESS, ONE OFTHE SIX GRANDCHILDREN OF THE AUTHOR. THE READER WILL SEE JESS GROW FROM A LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD TO A YOUNG WOMAN OF 12 YEARS OLD.

THIS SHORT STORY IS WRITTEN FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A GRANDFATHER. GRANDFATHERS WILL RELATE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF A GRANDFATHER WATCHING HIS GRANDCHILD FISH IN THE POND.CHILDREN MIGHT RELATE TO JESS AS SHE LEARNED THE FINER POINTS OF FISHING AND SETTING THE HOOK.

WHEN PARENTS ARE RAISING THEIR CHILDREN THERE IS ACOMMON PROBLEM. ONE OR BOTH PARENTS ARE WORKING AND THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE CLOCK. BY THE TIME THE GRANDCHILDREN COME UPON THE SCENE, GRANDPARENTS ARE RETIRED AND ENJOY THE FREEDOM FROM "ROCKING AROUND THE CLOCK". BECAUSE BOTH THE GRANDCHILD AND THE GRANDPARENT ARE NOT TIED TO THE CLOCK, THERE IS A WONDERFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM.

THE AUTHOR HAS WRITTEN MANY SHORT STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN, BUT THE MAGICAL POND IS A FAVORITE OF THE AUTHOR.

About the Author

THE AUTHOR WAS BORN IN EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI. ON THE 13TH•DAY OF AUGUST, 1928. HE IS A GRADUATE OF EAST GRAND RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL (1946). HE ATTENDED CARLETON COLLEGE LOCATED IN NORTHFIELD, MN. HE RECEIVED HIS DEGREE FROM CARLETON IN 1950. AFTER GRADUATION FROM CARLETON COLLEGE HE SPENT THE SUMMER OF 1950 BIKING THROUGH EUROPE. UPON RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. HE WAS TRAINED AS A SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER. AFTER TIHREE YEARS HE WAS DISCHARGED. HE ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL. HE RECEIVED HIS DOCTORITE OFLAW IN 1956. HE PRACTICED LAW WITH THE FIRM OF SMITH & BROOKER, P.C. IN THE TOWN OF BAY CITY, MI. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRM FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MICHIGAN STATE BAR ASSOCIATION FOR 50 YEARS. WHEN HE RETIRED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW HE DECIDED TO WRITE SHORT STORIES AND POEMS. HE BEGAN PAINTING USINGTHE MEDIUM OF WATER COLORS. IN HIS RETIREMENT HE DISCOVERED HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN. JESS WAS THE YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD FOR A LONG TIME. IN THIS SHORT STORY THE MAGICAL POND AND THE SWIMMING POOL WERE MEANS TO AN END. IN THE END HE PASSED ON A SET OF VALUES TO ALL HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY TO ONE NAMED JESS. ON THE WAY TO THE MAGICAL POND AND IN THE SWIMMING POOL HE PASSED ON TO JESS AND HIS OTHER FIVE GRANDCHILDREN HIS PHILOSOPHY. ON THE WAY TO THE TO THE MAGICAL POND THE READER WILL GLIMPSE A LITTLE OF HIS PHILOSPHY.