“A Midnight Romantic Notion” begins the final series of posts about the summers I spent on salmon fishing boats in Southeast Alaska. Do join me as I revisit the experiences of fishing for the sometimes plentiful and sometimes scarce salmon!
A MIDNIGHT ROMANTIC NOTION
Nineteen-seventy-five,
haven’t been north in seven years.
My late thirties, fishing summers gone, now a suburban man,
gorgeous wife, two smart sons,
house with a view, a career, two golden retrievers, vintage sailboat nestled in a marina, unfinished remodeling projects,
scruffy grass, a hedge gone wild.
Lorelie says, “Tim, I’d like to invite
Glenda and Larry Dontos to dinner.”
“Who?”
“Glenda Dontos and I sit next to each other at choir. Her husband Larry is a fisherman, you’d have fun.”
“Sure, OK by me.”
Getting close to midnight,
Lorelie and Glenda on the couch
talking of choir, children, homes . . .
Larry and I sip scotch, telling stories, lies. “You were on the coast when the fish hit late in ’68?” “Loaded the boat.”
“Remember how the Ranger rolled over, sank?”
“Yeah, one too many brailers,
the load shifted in the swell.” “We deck loaded the St. Francis there days in a row.” “Wow!”
I’m whoozy with romantic notions of a past life.
“Your crew set for this summer?”
“Not quite, interested?”
“Yeah, sounds good to me.”
Lorelie leans forward on the couch, “What? You are going to what?”
Charged supplies at Seattle Ship, scratched up a few fish,
not much money. Maybe next year,
maybe several next years.
Put away the hammer, saw, and lawn mower, put on oilskins and hip boots sharpened the net knife. Got a new name, Mit Noslo.
To view a previously published “SALMON SUMMERS X” post – click here
