“She” is my significant other and partner in crime. She works literally 24/7 with many obligations that make outings like this very difficult and stressful. I contribute by relaxing while she does all the work and not paying attention.
She thought that going fishing would make a nice day trip for us, so she planned a trip for today, Thursday, May 15. She assured me she had fishing tackle, so last evening she brought over the spin cast rod that a former tenant left in the house. The monofilament line was knotted in the bail, and she couldn't figure out how to untangle it. It also looked like about 6 pound test line, inadequate for fishing on the Gulf. So, she went to Walmart and bought fishing tackle with the help of a guy there who fished. She was clueless how to operate spin cast rods and reels.
This morning we had a record low of 49° so we decided to leave a little later and had to go to the bank first anyway. Everything went very well until about halfway there when She suddenly announced that she had forgotten the shrimp heads she had cut for bait the night before. We got to Freeport and found that there were no places with any signs where she could get bait or a fishing license. I was about to turn around and pulled into a nondescript place that just happened to be the Freeport Visitor Center. She went inside and came out with directions to Mitchell's with everything we needed. At Mitchell's, She got a map to all the fishing spots.
We had previously decided to go to the fishing pier at Quintana Beach that we had seen many years before. They had built a high bridge over the Intercoastal Canal that threw me for a moment until I glanced at the map and saw that we were on the right track. And then from where the beach road started it looked to be some distance to that pier. After driving on that beach road for a few minutes, I determined we had gone too far and took a look at the map again. It appeared that we would have to go all the way back and take the beach there… so I did.
When we got to the beach it was covered with a reddish material that appeared to have been dumped right at the edge of the water line and then been spread on the beach by the tides. I could only surmise that it was ground up Christmas trees used to stop beach erosion, but I'm not sure. (Just found out that it was a seaweed invasion that looked manmade.) Anyway, the going was very rough and bumpy until we came to a park jeep collecting garbage and the guy directed us back to the beach road to the 16th Street entry to the pier that we'd already passed twice.
Arriving at the pier, I picked a spot where the sand seemed solid to park. As soon as I backed out of the van, I got my wheelchair stuck. Fortunately, two fishermen were returning and helped push me back into the van. After parking the van again, I had some squirrelly moments where she had to push before I got on the ramp to the pier. The wind on the pier was quite cold, so I was glad we arrived late.
She promptly announced that she had forgotten her fishing pole! There was a 75-year-old black woman there fishing with her son. They had four lines in the water and caught a 1 pound whiting and a 3 pound sea bass while we watched for about an hour. When I asked her to take a video of the fish she told me that she couldn’t find the video camera in my wheelchair that she had charged the night before. She didn't forget my lunch. But I forgot to tell her to take pictures with her iPhone of the kind and helpful people who offered her a pole if she wanted one.
She asked me to stop back at Mitchell's so that she could buy some fish. They had none. Upon our return, I wasn't paying attention and we ended up on Business 288 for about 15 miles rather than the freeway. Otherwise, it was a beautiful day at the beach. ;-)
She discovered the video camera in a plastic bag hung on my wheelchair when we returned. I had had to wrap a towel around my neck and head to ward off the cold wind, but my face developed a boiled lobster red from my brief exposure to the sun/wind. She’s already planning more fishing trips $$$.
Got it! So, you had a most "euphoric" multi-fishin' experience! Wish I could have a few like that in a single "fishin'" day! Oh boy! Are you certain the sun was shining that day? Sort of reminds me of Jim Morrison's singing "Riders on the Storm."It's sort of "gore," y' know? Deep Twilight Zone-ish.
Just the same, on the real side of things, I'll admit, that wasn't a very good experience. Yet, as I said that, I realize that .... well ... on the one hand, it was a very terrible one, but, on the other, it was a very good one. I'll bet you haven't been caught like that again! Orrr no! Happy fishin' to y', Doc! Thanks for sharing! Happy Easter!
Different. It's ironic how absent-mindedness can be ingratiating
when it's a loved one. I'm catching a water-off-the-back-of-a-duck vibe or maybee just a shrug.
Now this was most endearing :)
Love it's a wonderful thing... such a wonderful woman, an angel
wanting to make everything the best for you at your expense...
I do admit I'm laughing.
Sounds fun in anyway. I love fishing!!! We once woke up at 4:00 a.m. in the morning, drove more than 100 miles to Trenton, Ontario to go fishing over there, caught a lot of sunbeam fish. Came home, threw all the amost 100 fishes in the kitchen sink, but no one wanted to clean them. After a while they stunk to high heaven and we had to throw them out. Those were the days when we were young. So...I suppose...going fishing to catch fish, and cleaning fish and cook them are two different hobbies LOL!!!!
Sandie :o)
Reviewed by John Dyhouse
5/16/2014
Great story, dare I ask if it is fictional? I have had the occasional memory lapse (senior moment) but what a comedy of errors. Look forward to the next.
I think I'd tell her to see if the plumber wanted to go fishing with her instead of you. Oh, and tell her to buy fish early just in case. You might not be as fortunate the next time and would wind up in the gulf and float to Cuba.
Deputy Dave Jenkins sets out to find the murderer of the local high school principal, aided by a voice from the grave that is sometimes helpful and sometimes misleading.
"Murder isn't usually this funny."
Amazon reviewer
