Good god, I’m bored. I’m trying to kill a couple hours before dinner at my mother’s, but nothing is interesting me at the moment, not housework or television or even writing this blog, to be honest. I’m pretty tired, and should take a nap…someone woke me at six to go fishing.
I have a vague memory of an afternoon at my aunt and uncle’s house, during which my uncle Terry took me and my cousins Sarah and Duff out back to the creek in their yard. He showed Duff a few fishing fundamentals while me and Sarah, who was only maybe two at the time, looked for toads. I remember wanting to learn what Duff was, but being too shy to ask. I resolved myself to the frogs, but that was the first memory I have of anything fishing-related.
One time, I went with Mark and his brother and I reeled in a sunny. That was the first actual fishing experience I had, and I was intrigued. Mark grew up fishing, but nothing fancy. He would throw a line into some water and hope for the best, and out in the country he would often get a catch. He finds it’s a little trickier out here, though, despite the enormous amount of water access we have here In Erie County. So, he decided to teach himself a few new things.
Now, as I am no longer a shy 10-year-old, I had no problem saying “hey…teach me that!” So, he got me a pole and my fishing license and we developed a new little hobby.
I haven’t caught anything yet. I hooked one the other day, but he ripped the reel right off my pole. I had several bites today but no catch. We have found some cool places though, like the part of Caz creek filled with toads that reminded me of that childhood recollection in the first place. And the Ship Canal Commons, which is a totally underused little park perfect for walking, biking, and fishing.
Soon we will be going to visit Mark’s family and I am looking forward to fishing their creeks and lakes. (Though I refuse to call them lakes. Mark and I discussed this earlier…when you live on a Great Lake, everything else is a pond.) Today we were sitting and waiting for a nibble when I asked Mark what I should blog about today, and he said “hobbies during quarantine.” I suppose this is my quarantine hobby. (Also, my plants…I’ll write about them when they start popping.) It’s a good one. We can easily social distance while doing it, and we are learning new skills.
Anyway…still bored. We shoulda gone fishing again.
Ham 'N Eggs 