I came across this post on my facebook page and boy did the memories flood in, you see i had a little statue like this on our pier at our old home. I named him Orville after my late grandfather that was his middle name. I acquired Orville from a former co-worker back in 2008, she was moving to another home and this lil' guy sat on their pier at their pond, since her new place had no pond she asked if I wanted him for my pier, of course I did how could I resist. Orville sat watch over our pond for 11 years and as far as I know he is still there, He was our vigilant watch dog over the pond, he made sure no fish ever escaped, we had bluegills, grass carp sunfish and others i have no clue as to what they were I do know we had an albino catfish in there though, if anyone ever caught it they had to throw it back in immediately, several did catch it though, no kids ever fell in, although he could not prevent the time hubby lost control of our riding lawnmower he overlooked his angle (no pun intended in fisherman terms) lost his balance and himself and said lawnmower wound up in the pond. Orville did not laugh nor did he snicker but he also did not ask if he was OK. All was well lawnmower still worked the only thing hurt was hubby's ego. The neighborhood kids were always careful when they came fishing not to let Orville fall in the water, that was always my warning to anyone who ventured to the pond " Be careful you don't knock Orville into the water." He sat there like a sentinel. 24-7 and did such a fine job. I use to be worried when we would have our big July 4th parties that he would disappear and him being of concrete material he would definitely sink to the bottom which was 10 feet deep, I would ask hubby to move him to the barn for the day but he refused to remove our guardian from his spot, who will keep an eye on the kids if i take him away said he. I just did not want the lil' guy to be knocked into the water because I knew he could never be retrieved, I would miss him , seeing him sittin' there with his lil' fishin' pole every day would really bother me, Spring, summer, fall and winter he would always keep watch just as I did over him. We were lucky in all those 11 years he never took a dive !! Many close calls especially when our dog would run out onto the pier or when the pier was overrun with people fishing, through summer storms, winters ice and snow he stood his ground. When the time came that I had to leave our home after hubby's passing my son asked if I wanted to take Orville with me, NO ! I was moving to a villa with no water in sight just because I was being uprooted from my home did not mean Orville had to go also well, as it turns out Orville could not go if I or him wanted him to I found out hubby had screwed Orville onto the wood of the pier, I got a belly laugh out of that one, I had no idea that was done to Orville, all my worries and fears for him were for naught. The only disappointment I ever had with my Orville was that he never caught a fish, not one dang fish !!! I love and miss you desperately my sweet man !!! That is all for today my "SPECIAL READERS" Ta-Ta for now !!
