Of all the kids, Clara is by far most interested in learning about fly tying. Granted, I dont expect 4 and 5 year-olds to really get into fly tying, but Clara loves anything artistic and creative. And she has a million questions.
So when I tie some flies, (which seems pretty rare these days) I make sure to call Clara and invite her to hang out. I was tying up some green drakes for a trip to Penns and she was helping with some of the coloring activities of the wings and bodies. She loved it!
In my messy box of fly materials, I have a straw that I cut notches into for a makeshift nailknot tool. Clara found this straw and asked me if she could borrow it. ‘Of course sweetie’ and she ran off into the other room. As I finished up my last fly, she came running back into the room and said, “here Daddy, …I made you a green drake!” She had cut out a head and wings, colored them and then taped them to the straw. She also gave me a picture of us together.
I felt my heart swell to the size of the moon and instantly melted. I’ll never loose this green drake straw for the rest of my life. So precious. And what creativity ?!?! She’s 5!
