The Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire hosts a fishing day on Tuesdays during the summer. Many of the residence are born and raised in northern Michigan and this event helps them relive memories. 9&10’s Megan Huiskens went to the event to see the excitement of the residence after they got a catch.
“It is my favorite. It’s really quite easy,” said Bill Jones, resident. “Just have to throw a line in the water and wait till they get there. All right. Are y’all ready? I’m up to seven fish this year so far.”
Many residences look forward to this day each week.
“I had a boat on Torch Lake for a long time and I really enjoy it. It brings a lot of pleasure. About ten years ago, I went blind. And fishing with blindness is, you have to pay attention to every little thing you do to make sure you do it right.
“So, I’m just learning how to do it in this pond. But, it’s good. And everybody here takes such, well, care of you that, you can have fun doing it.”
Another resident, Joann Marie-Lacy says fishing in the pond brings her back.
“I used to sneak out at night and go down under the bridge and fish, and I’d catch some big bass up at nighttime,” said Lacy. “I lived right by the lake, and I go fishing just about every day. And I’d catch a fish, and we would have a big supper, a big fish supper. You can fry them. You can even bake them and cook them a lot of different ways, and they’re tastier.”
Linda Samuel, a resident, said fishing was a big part of her life and family.
Being able to fish is the best thing in the world,” said Samuel. “I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to fish. So, this is truly an answer to a prayer that I really needed to be able to fish. I used to fish like crazy.”
Samuel has a few pointers for anyone looking to drop a line in the water.
“You’ve got to get used to getting your hand all slimy, gross and disgusting. I have one that if you give it a minute and just take a deep breath and that fish will finally find it, the food, well, you are worth the wait.
Samuel shares the key to waiting for the catch.
“Oh, I don’t wait. Geez, woman,” said Samuel.
As the residents catch the fish with a smile on their face, they’re thankful to the community at Meadowbrook for letting them relive some of their best memories.
“It’s like heaven, it’s something to wake up,” He said. “In a lot of communities, you go there and people are just that trusting and they have nothing to wake up for. This gives them something to wake up for. On Tuesdays, I wake up and I get to go fishing. It’s just really cool to be able to have that.
“Most places do not. You just sit around on your butt, and then they wonder why, if they get sores, it’s because they aren’t letting them. You’ve got to get them up and give them a reason to get moving. And, they do their hair.”
“It’s really nice,” said Lacy. “It’s really enjoyable. And they meet a lot of new people, and it’s a lot of fun.”
“It’s one of the finest communities I’ve ever lived in,” said Jones. “It’s water everywhere. People are wonderful. It’s a great place to be.”
