Fishing! Brant and I got to join the crew of the North Star for a morning of fishing last week. Our crew this year are my two brothers (Jack and Jason) and Richard, who has fished with us for three years. Such a handsome crew!! Brant is always excited to be around his uncles and daddy for a little time on “daddy’s boat!” He also likes Richard very much and is finally starting to be able to say his name. 
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Salmon makes me so happy. It means God has blessed us another year. I canned around 70 pints this year. I smoked some, added garlic, and jalapeno to a few, for a change.
(For Paul)
The silence at 6am
The still of water and sound.
A distant clang of anchor and aluminum, The competition floats all around you.
You got up at 5 to prepare for this and you’ve been contemplating the act since the last fish was caught the fall before.
You feel your confidence falter, as you stake out your domain.
You watch the clock closely.. tick..tock..tick, and your breath starts to quicken.
The breeze hits you in the face and you’re reminded by the smell of the salty air that your father brought you here..
He showed you how this is done and now it’s your turn,
to show him,
that this pride of where you’ve come from is running in the blood of your veins.
The second hand moves closer and a final crew check, as you look down to the anxious silence of the deck.
Everyone’s in place.
The right line is in the right hand and the skiff motor hums in anticipation.
The competition floats closer, but you hold your ground, unyielding to their bluster.
The time has come.
You give the signal. The skiff release falls to the deck and engines roar with certainty.
Nothing can stop you now.
The net splashes into the water to soon envelop your good fortune.
Your breath steadies with a proclivity of know-how.
You’ve got this.
You soar with sufficiency.
(and I am so proud of you)
Photo by Spatz Brumm
