Looking Forward
February 25, 2024
I sent Sally and Raj a quick note this week to reassure them that all was well and everything would be set up for their August visit. Sal is a details person while Raj is big picture; lets things roll along. He figures things will work out, take care of themselves, and of course, he is correct.
On the appointed morning, of each year’s fishing trip, Raj is awakened from a sound sleep, directed to load all manner of supplies into the car and told to stop for breakfast en-route. Upon arrival, the car is unpacked, refrigerator stocked, beds made and water pails filled before the poor man gets to sit down.
I generally stop by for a visit once the activity has slowed a bit. I guess you could say that the filling of the water pails marks the beginning of their vacation.
We catch up on the past year, and I give them all the news from Lonesome Lake, which is considerable this year. The Watson cottage is changing hands after 80 years in the family, and there’s a plan to put guardrails around “let ’er rip corner.”
Sally and Raj will bring me up-to-date on their past year’s travels and what their children and grands are up to. Last year, one of the young ones received a B+ in geography… would have had an A had he realized the question referred to London, England and not the London in South Western Ontario.
Still, it points to a promising future for their grandson. As we sat on the cabin porch enjoying a Red Stripe, we could all imagine him one day striding across the podium to receive a Doctorate for research into the geographical nomenclature of the British Isles and the subsequent impact on the colonies.
I always try to keep the conversation flowing by bringing up world events, local history and the success, if any, of various government initiatives to improve roads, fix school buildings, find doctors for our clinic and support for failing businesses. Some of our local failures have been getting grants for close to two decades. Any day now, they will be turning a profit, paying taxes and hiring young people.
Eventually, the conversation will swing around to fishing. Sally always asks if my minnow traps are set. I make a mental note to set them right away and say, “Of course they are set, same as always.” As any business manager knows, it is important not to upset your clientele with facts and trivial details. Raj and I are both big picture people.
Now, questions about fishing are always a bit trickier. It’s not fair, on the first day of their vacation, to let them know no one has caught a Lonesome Lake trout, walleye or bass in many weeks. I generally hedge a bit with, “Fishing has been a mite slow lately. Bound to pick-up!” or “The glass is starting to rise,” and “Bass need a little more encouragement this time of year.” I might add, “High pressure is good for lake trout,” referring to, of course, atmospheric and not blood pressure.
I even offer the truth, “The speckles are staying in the deep spring fed pools, trying to stay cool.” No point adding that you could not entice them to bite with six pounds of caviar and the promise of a trip to Disney.
With that, I will slip away, set some traps, connect the garden hose to the water tank and wash out my boat. I’ll pull the spark plugs from the Evinrude and shine ‘em up a bit. New plugs are six dollars apiece so I save them for emergencies.
I am already looking forward to their visit.
Summer would not be the same without them.
Ricky
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