One fish, two fish. But what do you DO with the fish? Big Brother Joe & Little Brother Michael, who have been matched since 1998, decided one day to give fishing a try. After standing in the heat for nearly four and half hours, Michael was ready to quit, but Joe rallied him to stay for ten more minutes. As soon as Michael agreed, they got their first nibbles on both lines. They caught 9 large black bass over the next 30 minutes! Michael and Joe proudly brought their bounty home, only to realize neither of them had a clue how to gut a fish. As they started to try to clean them, they realized every single fish was full of bright yellow, slimy eggs… and that they were WAY over their heads. They chalked it up as a loss, and decided to cook burgers for dinner instead!
Just like with this outing, Joe never assumed he had all the answers. When he and Michael first met, he was excited but nervous. “Initially, I did not know what to do with him, so we spent a brief period of time just trying to get to know each other,” Joe reflected in a recent interview. “His shyness continued but he eventually warmed up to the idea that I was going to be around.” In addition to fishing trips, Michael and Joe enjoyed outings to sports games, movies, and simply hanging out talking and sharing jokes. Over the past 13 years, their relationship has continued to blossom into an adult friendship. “Michael and his family have become an extension of my family,” says Joe. “My parents, my kids and my in-laws have all accepted Michael as one of our own and have cheered for him and his success for years.”
Michael, now a father himself, is currently an Architectural Engineer with the United States Marine Corps and recently returned from Afghanistan. As he returns to his base in North Carolina we wish him and his family all the best! A BIG THANKS to Joe for always being there for Michael, and for his passion for Big Brothers Big Sisters!
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| Waco board member & Big Brother Joe, Little Brother Michael, and Joe’s two sons. |
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