June 9

I went to work this morning. As I crossed the bridge rain started to fall. Rain was not something I could work in. my gaze turned to the lake. The lake glistened like a mirror; the flat water was disturbed only with the passage of a lonely boat fishing beside the bridge. I had to go to my boat, I had the wakeboards and some snacks. Captain Rob has a learn to wakeboard trip on Friday.

I went past my job and drove on to the marina to check on Serendipity and stock the boat for Rob’s coming trip. The rain continued to fall. I walked out to the dock and met a couple of guys working on a slip. They were working together with an aluminum deck boat and a little aluminum car topper. They didn’t mind the rain, the wind was the enemy. Of course, I started up a conversation with them, it’s what I do in the coronaverse.

Dock repair and installation has been good business this year. After three years of fixing docks damaged in the last two floods, covid has made more people think about their boats. Dock repair/installation companies are doing a booming business. What I have seen is some facets of our economy continue to boom, while others like tourism and travel are suffering. It would seem that some of our businesses will thrive and some will die. Our government is doing what it can to save businesses. What will save our government?

Rain continued to fall, work was lower on my mind so I chose to go try to catch a fish. Practice makes perfect, practicing fishing seemed like a good way to spend a rainy day. I readied Serendipity, set my lines and trolled in front of Mission Creek. The glassy water was interrupted by a breeze in the air. A chop hit the water and I saw a black line to the south. Trepidation crept into my mind and felt an unease, in the back of my mind I remembered the dock guy talking about the possibility of wind. Fear is something that can easily overtake our minds. I pushed down my fear and continued on.

Trolling into the wind, I soaked in the feeling of relaxation and let go of any tension. Guilt haunted the corner of my mind, guilt about not working, and guilt about fishing when I should be productive.

ZIngggg… my rod bent over and I had a fish on! I lept to my feet and grabbed my rod, My guilt forgotten. I thrilled with my inner child and reeled in the wiggler on the end of my line. The rainbow trout leaped from the water and I was able to land my prize without a net. The fish was feisty but smaller than I hoped for. I carefully removed the hook from its mouth and let my prize go back into the water. I smiled and told him to go grow bigger. I chuckled to myself, happy with the fact I caught a fish and wondered what he would tell his friends about its adventure on the surface. Laughing at myself do fish have friends?

Rain dissipated and the wind calmed. The weather was improving. Guilt resurfaced as the rain quit and the sun burst from the cloud. Satisfied that I had caught a fish and had a better idea where I could take fishing tours. I returned to the dock and tucked the boat in; ready for the wakeboard tour on Friday.

I managed to get a part of my job completed and returned home to the chaos my daughter brings upon her return from her moms. Chaos may be the wrong word to describe three teenagers sitting on their phones. Chaos would be the correct term to describe my feelings about the kids’ addiction to the new technology that has overtaken society. I felt chaos because the phone is such a large part of their social lives, yet they are together and should not need technology to connect with each other. I yearn to connect with my kid, to have her find real connection outside her phone.

I relaxed and reveled in the good fortune of my day. I will continue to find a way to connect with my daughter. I continue to find ways to connect with my world. I smile at the connection I felt catching the fish and being on the water. We are going to Vancouver Island for a meeting on Thursday. I will take my kid and hope to connect with her on our journey.