Fishing
I went fishing today!! For real, I'm not using it in any dating or sexual sense. I learned to cast out and then slowly real the line in while doing a little jerk every once in awhile. I didn't catch anything, but then the whole hour and a half, only one fish was caught - and it was a TINY, but very cute little perch - so it wasn't just me not being a good fisherwoman! The fish just weren't biting today! I usually keep my camera in my purse at all times, just in case, but today (dammit!) I didn't have it. Otherwise I would have been also posting a picture of the tiny perch, and a picture of the gorgeous Chicago view!!
So here's how this came about. One of my bosses, The Meat, keeps a fishing rod in his office and every once in awhile he likes to walk to the lake and fish for awhile. He throws all the fish he catches back, of course, but he just enjoys fishing so much. Up until now, whenever he went I couldn't go for one reason or another. He went yesterday and came back after having caught at least 10 fish - and with his one unwashed hand with which he took the fish off the hook. He had everyone smell his hand, it smelled AWFUL! But he's so silly, he said it smelled to him "like life."
So today he told me he wanted to go again and I told him I was definitely IN! We didn't end up going until just before four o'clock, and stayed out until 5:30 (I had to run back to work then to drop off his fishing pole and get my stuff). We walked to Monroe Harbor, got a couple of hot dogs there, and sat on the concrete and fished. It was so great! I felt so alive being out there, sitting by the lake, feeling the amazing breeze on my face and the sun on my back, looking out at all the gorgeous sailboats in the harbor, and smelling the smells of summer and boating. It was the best feeling I've had in a long time! I can't explain how much I love that wind in my face while looking out over a lake, and the smells that are all around! Although I don't think that an icky fish smell "smells like life," I can completely relate. To me, everything about that hour and a half today smelt and felt like life, and I was so alive and drinking it all in!
The Meat fished most of the time, of course. Near the end he asked if I wanted to try and I said "of course!" He showed me how, when my line was reeled up near the top, to pull some switch thing toward me while I had the line on my finger, and then I can reel back and cast out! Also, I now know how to hold the rod! I felt so cool! He told me I was getting it, too! But he was really disappointed that I didn't get to catch anything. Although, I did a bunch of times feel a little nibble! So now I know what he was talking about at least with the little slight pull! Still, we're going to go again soon cause he said he won't be satisfied until I actually catch a fish and feel how that feels (the pulling it in part, NOT the feeling it in my hand part, which I won't do - he will take it off the hook for me. And throw it back for me. But I will take a picture of it before he throws it back!!!).
It was nice hanging out with The Meat, too. Although I'm never completely comfortable with him. I'm always aware of myself and feel a little self-conscious, so young and in many ways petty. On the way to the harbor, we talked about his kids a lot (he's 60, so no, he's not some potential guy - I should have said that earlier). And we chatted easily when we were fishing. One question he asked me: "So what's your story? Why aren't you married?" He's known me for going on three and a half years, so he can of course ask me that. But once I started talking, I was feeling stupid, like all my little things were so stupid. I didn't feel at ease talking to him about myself and things because I just felt so self-conscious. I think he's one of the best people in the world - he's the wisest, and he's had the bad fun complete with saloons, bar fights, motorcycles, jail, surfing while selling cheap art for a living - you name it, he's done it. And it's made him so interesting. But yet he's also one of the best people in the world who just is so good, and always believes in and helps the little people and the down-and-out people. My reason for expounding on him is this - I just get a little nervous around him, because I admire him so much. And I feel like a completely naive little girl sometimes around him, such as when he asks me questions about myself like that. I can easily talk to my girlfriends and my diary about it, but talking to a wise 60-year-old who I admire is much more difficult. And then I feel even worse after we part, because I feel that I didn't explain myself at all and didn't give him good answers and the answers that he wanted - to get to know me more, and that I sounded boring and young. Maybe I just can't talk about all my little issues with him. Because they sound stupid to me when I start to talk about them to him. Even though they aren't stupid to me. Not really, even though I keep saying that word right now.
But I can't wait for the next time! I want to be able to say that I caught a fish!!! (And of course threw it back!) And I'll take a picture of it and of course make The Meat very quickly take a picture of me with the fish on the line! And also, I can't wait to go back because of how great it was, and how alive I felt, and how soft and cool and perfect the breeze felt on my face, and how warm and comforting the sun felt on my back, and how perfect and summery the whole lake smelled! It was just PERFECT!!! I know that all sounded so cheesy, but it's all actually true!
So here's how this came about. One of my bosses, The Meat, keeps a fishing rod in his office and every once in awhile he likes to walk to the lake and fish for awhile. He throws all the fish he catches back, of course, but he just enjoys fishing so much. Up until now, whenever he went I couldn't go for one reason or another. He went yesterday and came back after having caught at least 10 fish - and with his one unwashed hand with which he took the fish off the hook. He had everyone smell his hand, it smelled AWFUL! But he's so silly, he said it smelled to him "like life."
So today he told me he wanted to go again and I told him I was definitely IN! We didn't end up going until just before four o'clock, and stayed out until 5:30 (I had to run back to work then to drop off his fishing pole and get my stuff). We walked to Monroe Harbor, got a couple of hot dogs there, and sat on the concrete and fished. It was so great! I felt so alive being out there, sitting by the lake, feeling the amazing breeze on my face and the sun on my back, looking out at all the gorgeous sailboats in the harbor, and smelling the smells of summer and boating. It was the best feeling I've had in a long time! I can't explain how much I love that wind in my face while looking out over a lake, and the smells that are all around! Although I don't think that an icky fish smell "smells like life," I can completely relate. To me, everything about that hour and a half today smelt and felt like life, and I was so alive and drinking it all in!
The Meat fished most of the time, of course. Near the end he asked if I wanted to try and I said "of course!" He showed me how, when my line was reeled up near the top, to pull some switch thing toward me while I had the line on my finger, and then I can reel back and cast out! Also, I now know how to hold the rod! I felt so cool! He told me I was getting it, too! But he was really disappointed that I didn't get to catch anything. Although, I did a bunch of times feel a little nibble! So now I know what he was talking about at least with the little slight pull! Still, we're going to go again soon cause he said he won't be satisfied until I actually catch a fish and feel how that feels (the pulling it in part, NOT the feeling it in my hand part, which I won't do - he will take it off the hook for me. And throw it back for me. But I will take a picture of it before he throws it back!!!).
It was nice hanging out with The Meat, too. Although I'm never completely comfortable with him. I'm always aware of myself and feel a little self-conscious, so young and in many ways petty. On the way to the harbor, we talked about his kids a lot (he's 60, so no, he's not some potential guy - I should have said that earlier). And we chatted easily when we were fishing. One question he asked me: "So what's your story? Why aren't you married?" He's known me for going on three and a half years, so he can of course ask me that. But once I started talking, I was feeling stupid, like all my little things were so stupid. I didn't feel at ease talking to him about myself and things because I just felt so self-conscious. I think he's one of the best people in the world - he's the wisest, and he's had the bad fun complete with saloons, bar fights, motorcycles, jail, surfing while selling cheap art for a living - you name it, he's done it. And it's made him so interesting. But yet he's also one of the best people in the world who just is so good, and always believes in and helps the little people and the down-and-out people. My reason for expounding on him is this - I just get a little nervous around him, because I admire him so much. And I feel like a completely naive little girl sometimes around him, such as when he asks me questions about myself like that. I can easily talk to my girlfriends and my diary about it, but talking to a wise 60-year-old who I admire is much more difficult. And then I feel even worse after we part, because I feel that I didn't explain myself at all and didn't give him good answers and the answers that he wanted - to get to know me more, and that I sounded boring and young. Maybe I just can't talk about all my little issues with him. Because they sound stupid to me when I start to talk about them to him. Even though they aren't stupid to me. Not really, even though I keep saying that word right now.
But I can't wait for the next time! I want to be able to say that I caught a fish!!! (And of course threw it back!) And I'll take a picture of it and of course make The Meat very quickly take a picture of me with the fish on the line! And also, I can't wait to go back because of how great it was, and how alive I felt, and how soft and cool and perfect the breeze felt on my face, and how warm and comforting the sun felt on my back, and how perfect and summery the whole lake smelled! It was just PERFECT!!! I know that all sounded so cheesy, but it's all actually true!
