leave it to mark twain: "the catfish is a pretty good fish for anyone."

things p. (loml) does that make me laugh: while i'm working, he surfs the net and signs up to be an ordained minister online, printing out the official certificate, framing it and hanging it in the sunroom in a prominent position.

yesterday's fishing facts: you can in fact reach a fishing spot before the scheduled-like-clockwork storms we have been having. this time we chose a nearby lake in the state park just before dark, thinking a good spot would be only steps from the car. the first two secluded spots away from the beach were "taken" so we had to hike the trail to a deserted boat landing further into the cove. fishing with turkey gizzards (my idea) and corn (p's tried and true idea) i caught a near record-breaking/far above average size bullhead catfish along with a prior smaller one. the larger one is being reported to the local fish warden. too much fun!!! ... p. fell in the lake while i reeled in the little guy as he went to grab it and slipped on the rocks. this was truly a beautiful sight, right at sunset, the lake dark, the sky still slightly light and p. luminated in his own right .. just a treasure for my mind's eye. the sound the lake made was like laughter as it gobbled him up for a brief second at the shoreline and then spit him back out in a giant guffaw! fish number two, "the big guy," p. was afraid we would lose, so he got in the water on purpose/with purpose to grab him when i pulled him free of the dark water ... and a very good thing since he ate the food and was trying to shake free of the hook which was barely lodged in his lip. later, when we skinned him and split open his stomach we found the very large piece of turkey gizzard, so this fish was very nearly the "one that got away."

kissing in the rain: can be done, even in the wake of these storms. last night was a lesson in watching the sky light up across the lake, the storm approaching. then hearing it, but not seeing it behind us. then being completely surrounded by the noise with the sky flickering on and off above us like some trickster turning on and off the overheads ...which was helpful because then we could make eye contact with our bobbers on the dark water. by the time we reeled in the final time, head-mauled the keeper fish, cleaned up our spot on the rocks, packed up and on our gear, it was raining hard. hiking out through the trees, another lesson learned ... trust that you are the smallest thing out there (even though you are puffed up large and empowered by a good night fishing) and far beneath the height of what might be struck by light. this made for a refreshing walk, safe and sound, somewhat dry in our rain gear (those of us who did not fall in the lake), our long hair curling and our faces wet with the best kind of tears, soggy hands/holding hands and gear, separating once to quickly cross a wildflower meadow where we were for a time the tallest moving targets, then together back at the car, already planning the next trek out... stopping on the way home for more turkey gizzards in prep!

what we drink while we are fishing: we drink in the moment ... that brief time between dusk and total darkness ... and orange soda and coke, mixed! ... a soft drink collision circa p's germany days.

what summer should be like: this and more of this.

because life is not all fun and games: there are still 7 or so more days till the final submission date for glimmer trains short/short story contest. for anyone who is procrastinating, they have online submission status.