This was my Rotary Club's annual trip, probably more famous for our partying and camaraderie than fishing. We have saved over 40 children from 3rd world countries that needed life saving heart surgery through Rotary's Gift of Life Foundation (my northern NJ District has saved over 2000! 7 fatalities sadly). I have posted before that I am a miracle survivor in 1993 of endocarditis that should have taken me out. When I lived through an 11 hour operation, I knew that I was here for a reason and worked like crazy to raise funds for GOL. We had only hosted 3 children in my Club at that point. Anyhow, 7 of the over 40 have stayed in my home. They come with one parent. It is a remarkable sight to go into a recovery room with a child's mom or dad when they see their son/daughter "pink" with normal coloring after heart surgery. They arrive with purple skin and lips. Other than raising my 3 kids as a single father, it's the greatest thing I have been fortunate to participate in. Facebook has made it possible for me to still see some of them and communicate. Very emotional when they go home, sending them off on the plane. They are usually here for 6 weeks, so it is a chore to host. I have had one boy from Bolivia and his dad twice now. He will probably need more surgery in 5 years. The first time, 2011, the father said to me through an interpreter (my Spanish is OK but not great) that he wanted to apologize and was ashamed(?) I asked why, why do you feel this way? He answered that villagers in Bolivia had said that America just wanted to steal his son's organs to give to our kids here. Don't go. That we were terrible people. I was shocked. He confessed that although it frightened him, "Diego" would die anyway from not getting surgery so he had nothing to lose. Can you imagine? As they waited at the airport to board and head home, he said all of this, apologizing and saying Americans were the finest people in the world. We saved his son. Oh yeah, you asked about the fishing! We left Belmar NJ early afternoon on Parker Pete's boat (terrific boat). The captain took us north near Sandy Hook. Plenty of action but most fluke were "shorts" as they must be at least 18 inches to keep. The hurricane remnants came across Pennsylvania and made their way to us after a few hours and the captain kept moving us south to avoid it. Eventually it caught us and, once there was lightning, we had to head in. We had a great time, again it's a great charitable organization (I have been in for over 30 years following in my Dad's footsteps), and the world had a lot less beer, vodka and scotch when we got back to the dock LOL. My 8yo grandson caught his first "ocean" fish a sea bass. No fish tacos, I got no keepers. But.....we are having lobsters and clams today on my deck. On sale in NJ. Peace to all, good luck to us, and go CTSO.
