April 29, 2007
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My brother caught his first fish this year. I say this year, but I think the last time he went fishing he was 12. We live near a great fishing river, one of the cleanest in the world I’m told, and my brother decided he was going to learn to fish like the pros. Friday was his birthday and he caught a 12-lb salmon.
The fishing community is divided into thirds. The third that does the best are out in boats. The white guys on shore tried to run the Filipinos off the beach, but they just moved down closer to the bar. My brother found them to be more helpful that the white guys, so he hangs out by the bar. I do, too. Before I got out of the car, I rolled my window down and said in a voice loud enough for his new buddies to hear, “You sure it’s okay for a woman to be down here?” My brother smiled and said, not loud enough for them to hear, “Yeah, I asked.”
I watched a father and son get a fish in tonight. The father wasn’t speaking English, but his tone conveyed what every son should be lucky enough to hear. The son was in his late 20s, which probably accounted for the father’s restraint.
God, it was beautiful with the sun on the water. We had a reprieve at the last minute. It was supposed to cloud up and rain this afternoon but the sun came out. I laid out on the deck and listened to old songs. It was one of those amazing coincidences when every song was good. Normally, I don’t expect much out of the radio. I was out late last night, dancing with Rudy, so I took a little nap on the chaise. What could be better I ask you?
It is a major undertaking, which gets worse every year, to get my body ready for Florida. Fortunately, I started doing situps earlier this year than in years past. I’ve only lost five pounds, and I’m usually further along by now but I can get my shorts zipped so it’ll be okay. The swimsuits I tried on today, and only one looks okay. And when I say “okay,” I am being kind. But you take any pair of thighs and you get a little sun on them, they look a whole lot better. I swear my back looks older. Anybody got a good exercise for old-lady back? I have less than two weeks left. Yippeeee!
Comments (13)
RYC: It’s not by anyone other than Lincoln. A collection from “Library of America.”
RYP (re: your post): Dancing with Rudy still…. There’s a story here for sure. And the whole fishing thing… I was ready for a short story here. This wasn’t quite, but what an opportunity to turn an experience into something, an article if not a story.
Fishing is not my thing but my male people love it. They went this weekend and my son was apparently very good at it.
I missed you. No advice on thighs or old lady back. I should work on getting a little sun, too. But first, I’ll tone these thighs with some daily biking. Hooya!
Wonderful, to hang out by a river in the sun. My cousin once took me fishing with him, reluctantly, when we were kids. He was sure I’d be bored, since I was only going to sit in the boat and not have a pole of my own. I was a little bored, but I was determined not to let him know.
Out dancing with Rudy, spill the beans lady, you tease you!! marilyn
When I asked about my back muscles at the gm they showed me this one where I pull down weights from above using a bar in two different ways. One jus straight down and one I pulled all the way to my sides and held it there. Painful that last one was. I am trying to think of things you can do to mimic that. It’s weird because the weight resistance is up as you pull down and I can thing of anything like that. But it does tone things.
You had me thinking of the hot white skies when I really learned how to fish well with the ex. It was gorgeous. The pier people are unique. Here it is not uncommon for women to be there, but it is not uncommon to snag diseased fish either. Nice that you should have such a great place.
And sweet that Rudy is still around to dance with. No wonder you are in shape. You are going to be smokin hot.
i’ve never been fishing in my entire life!
i dread the summer bathing-suit season… and no amount of tan is gonna make my body look half as good as your body (with your health & beauty regimen) obviously already does.
do isometrics against a wall, like push ups…that will help that back. and florida! i love the beaches there…
The fishing sounds like fun. Does your brother fly-fish? Unfortunately we only get salmon in our rivers in August and September (though I know there are a lot of places where the salmon stay in the rivers all year).
Have a great time in Florida! How long will you be there?
RYC: Its real. At least I think it happened…. oh boy.
which area of Florida will you be visiting? enjoy the trip . . .
*hugs* I love you. I’ll talk to him more seriously about seeing a specialist. Right now, though, I’m floating on a cloud of euphoria-turning-to-drowsiness after my half hour bike ride to work. The way back should be more vigorous and grueling (stupid hills), but it’s all good and good for me.
RYC: Are you kidding? I think it’s a “grass is always greener” thing, because I read about all you do and write and the fantastic way you write and think “Why do I bother?!” I just keep plugging along, with no big grand vision other than a lifestyle one. So I do things that seem to keep me moving down that path.