Ahhhh....Saturday. I slept in until 7:30 AM, had some coffee, made breakfast, and looked out at the greening woods.
It's supposed to rain today and be blustery, but so far, it's just still and overcast. I really like these Saturday mornings. I've said before that they remind me so much of being a kid, waking up to all the great possibilities of the day, and knowing that there isn't any hurry to get anywhere. I really loved those Saturdays when it was warm enough to go outside and play.
On spring Saturdays, my dad would be tilling up the garden and getting ready for his spring planting. Some Saturdays, he would take me fishing for the first run of speckled trout. Those were ritual Saturdays when he would get up at 4 AM, fix a breakfast of Smithfield ham, eggs, biscuits with red-eye gravy. I felt important to be included in those adventures on the water.
My father was a gentleman fisherman. He wore a tie when he fished. We would set out for some of his favorite spots. He taught me about reading the water, looking for shoals, understanding aids to navigation, tying knots, and a host of other things that have served me well in my career.
He never drank on the boat. He was a serious fisherman. There were protocols to maintain. I was always glad to be there because he was happiest on the water. I suppose that was his sanctuary, just as it has become mine.
I don't do much fishing these days. For some reason, I can't stand to see the fish struggle. I don't want to kill anything. Instead, I just like to be on the water, sailing and exploring. Instead of a fishing rod, I take my camera with me wherever I go and try to capture what I see.
And today with the overcast skies seems to be the perfect day to capture some of the beauty of this place that I love.
Have a happy Saturday everyone.
Loved reading your words, you have a great way of saying things, so images become very clear in ones mind.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered what red eye gravy is.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week end.
What a lovely remembrance and especially to be able to appreciate your Dad in this way and to realize that he needed a sanctuary...as so many of us do.
ReplyDeleteYou're kidding about the tie, right?
ReplyDeleteHey Syd, a tie for fishing huh? oh my! A gentleman indeed! I don't enjoy killing things either, cept for the darn ants that have started to appear in my home lately. I will gladly do away with those little buggers.
ReplyDeleteso you're a born gardener. that is a great story about you and your father. thank so much for sharing this part of your life with us.
ReplyDelete"Slept in until 7:30"? Bwa ha hahahaha.
ReplyDeleteUm, I got up at 7:45 this morning. That was decidely NOT sleeping in for me.
Nice thoughts about your father. I like the image of a gentleman angler. Smartly dressed in tie. Marvellous.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend.
My dad loved to fish too. And I loved being with him. I have many wonderful memories of fishing with him in the Dells in Wisconsin, on lakes near our home and on the Maryland shore. My mother was the fish fryer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memory,
PG
What is it about water? I spent the afternoon Friday out in my kayak, and the peace it brings me is palpable. I hope to do more of it in an exercise of balance and taking better care of myself.
ReplyDeleteI think having such a good place that you retreat to - inspired in part from your childhood is such an amazing thing - to have that - you are very, very lucky indeed.
ReplyDelete