My Fiancé’s Hands

Handmade: My Fiancé’s Hands Photolithography print and blockprint 9 in. x 9 in. and 9 in. x 12 in. 2021 “I was probably 5 or 6 years old the first time I went deep sea fishing with my dad. It is one of the earliest memories that I possess. My dad had just reeled in a decent sized grouper and it was lying on the deck of the boat next to me. Once it had stopped flopping around, I decided that it was safe to investigate. Its mouth was open and for whatever reason I had the urge to poke it right between the eyes. A rookie mistake. The grouper came back to life and it was seeking revenge. It lashed out and bit my hand. Despite the blood loss and a fish getting the best of me, I look back on this memory fondly. Fishing was something me and my dad both loved to do and it connected us. Some of the best memories I have had with him have been on a boat. With nothing to do except for waiting on the bite, naturally many stories were told. The ones starting with “don’t tell your mom about this” were always the best ones. Even when my dad no longer walks this earth, when I go fishing I will think and feel close to him. Hopefully one day when I have children of my own, they will stick their fingers in places they don’t belong and I will get to say “welp I bet you won’t ever do that again,” just like my dad had.” —JCS (Jason C. Smith)https://kb.gcsu.edu/oblivion/1074/thumbnail.jp