Last Sunday morning, I received a call from our friend Kajun Kang, asking for some ice to help with the hot day he had ahead, boiling the best crawfish in the city. So, I loaded up the family and drove to what we call the “fish house.” As I walked to our loading dock, watching my sons dart in and out of the shadows of our unlit retail area, a wave of nostalgia hit me. I remembered a similar scene from almost 30 years ago, except it was me on the other side, with my grandfather Giby and my father Russell.
While many of my cousins often visited the warehouse, my sister and I rarely missed a weekday. Our dad would take us there around 4 a.m., picking up our favorite breakfast (breakfast on a bun from Whataburger) before heading in to meet our grandfather, who would watch us in the early mornings. During this routine, he taught us how fishermen tie knots, how to prepare different seafood dishes, and, most importantly, the value of family.
As I pulled the chain to open our back dock and my sons cheered as the sunlight filled the warehouse, I realized how much I owe to the men who came before me. Because of my grandfather, father, and uncles, I can offer my sons something rare—a business rich with decades of history, memories, and love that transcends any single individual in our clan.
This Father’s Day, I want to honor my grandfather Giby, my father Russell, my uncle Rick, and my uncle Mike. Your hard work has given us something to be proud of, something that still brings a tear to my grandfather’s eye.  I will strive to continue our legacy to the next generation.
- Blake Groomer
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