Released March 14, 2010
By Julie Mueller
Today, as every Sunday it seems, I found myself at the beach most of the day. The ocean is amazing … every day you get something new and every day is different from another. I don’t think I’ve been there when it’s been the same as the day before.
Once day the water was like glass and I swam and floated the morning away. Another day everyone was eating … the gulls and pelicans were feasting up a storm, the shore birds were drilling for crabs and there was even a dolphin meandering around snacking on the little fish that are everywhere. I thought how the earth feeds and takes care of its own even out here where it looks like dry empty sand but is rich with food. Floating in the water calms me and feeds my soul; like being cradled and soothed while the sound of the waves and birds melt away all negatives.
The last few weeks I’ve gone the water has been colder. Last week I could only float for about an hour before the Great Mother chased me away. I stooped for shells instead that day. Today the water was very rough — there must be a rain front on the way. It was a bit colder too — about 80 (sorry my Illinois friends) and the water was about 79 — I couldn’t go in today past my knees. I wanted to go out to the sandbar out by the Diplomat on Longboat Key which is my new favorite place to go — good shelling and floating out there.
I bought a fishing pole last week. I wanted to try to catch a fish that and eat it. I’m going to buy a kayak too as soon as I pay a few more bills. They are about $200 for a good used one. So fishing is a bit like sewing, believe it or not. The “thread” which is your monofilament line is wound around a “bobbin” which is your fishing reel and you feed the thread up through the little fishing pole eyes and out the top where you put the needle (hook). You throw the needle into the fabric (ocean) over and over and when you’re “done” you have something wonderful (fish). I bought my fishing pole (pink) that came with a pre-installed winder (also pink) but was a bit puzzled after that. I searched the internet but they all assume you already know how it works and my Uncle Jim who fishes is still three days away. So while I was buying my fishing license (you have to have one here, no exceptions) I was grilling the local fishermen on what I should buy and do. The helpful clerk told me to go get my pole and he would get me set up. I ran out to the car and came back where he deemed my $12.95 rod and reel “not too bad.” He sold me the required fish measurement tool and a pink hook with a flapper thing and said “just go throw it into the water over at Lido Beach” which I drove over and did. So for the next three hours I was delighted to throw the line into the water and roll it back up again. Oh what a wonderful thing and how wonderful to spend the day at the beach in a happy pursuit. No, I didn’t catch anything but afterword I went to Whole Foods and bought some grouper to take home for dinner. I pretended I caught it at the beach and I was really happy. I was really happy today.
This is very clever and I love the analogy very much. I agree fishing is very much like sewing. Sometimes you catch a fish and all is well- sometimes you finish a project and all is well. Sometimes you catch a different fish than we dreamed of. Sometimes you sew up a project we figure something went wrong but end results take us in a different direction - a change of dreams.
Nicely done - thanks for sharing your story. Debi
Comment by Debi W — March 14, 2010 @ 10:25 am
What a delighful observer you are. I have live on the beach for years and not given that aspect any thought. I will have a new appreciation from now on of my beach. Joan
Comment by Joan Ruffing — March 14, 2010 @ 10:45 am
Oh how jealous I am of you. The Beach everyday. Your writing took me with you and I enjoyed the day. Here in Michigan we are having a heat wave. 40 and 50’s, but the snow is nearly gone, the grass is turning a little greener and my tulips are beginning to pop their heads out. Spring can’t be far away. Thank you for sharing your day with me.
Debby
Comment by Debby Wright — March 14, 2010 @ 11:38 am
What a delightful day you had!! Where are you? Key West? Carifornia? Sounds just wonderful especially the part about going to Whole Foods! LOL Brings to mind a story I heard about Thomas Edison. He had a water front place in Ft. Myers, Fl. It seems he had a long dock on his property. Once a day he would take his pole and go out to the end of the dock and sit. He had left strict orders never to be disturbed while he was fishing. One day a friend of the cooks was at the house and wanted to know what did they do with all that he caught? Well the cook laughed and said that Mr. Edison didn’t like fish and besides that he NEVER caught anything because he had a pole, string AND NO hook! lol Enjoy the beach where ever you are!
Julie in Va.
Comment by Julie in Va. — March 14, 2010 @ 11:47 am
Thank you Julie for the wonderful memories about fishing. I went fishing once a few years ago in the mountains in Oregon. All I caught was a tree (I was able to retrieve my line and hook), but I enjoyed casting the line and the quiet conversation with cousins. We’ve let our busy schedule get in the way of the meaningful quiet times. Sewing does provide a very similar experience.
Comment by Kayla — March 14, 2010 @ 2:11 pm
Julie you have made me so homesick!! I grew up on Sanibel Island and had such a wonderful childhood. I spent many hours on the beach, day and night, fishing and shelling. I remember catching a snook so big one day I could not carry it so I just dragged it home. I think I was 10 at the time. Things have changed in the 45 years since I left, but my love of the beaches and water has never left me. I can shut my eyes and still hear the lapping of the waves on the shore. Wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing. Marietta
Comment by Marietta — March 14, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
Julie, what a wonderful picture you painted for us. I too am drawn to the seashore, but now that I live in landlocked Idaho I don’t get to see much of it. Also, althought I always waded whenever at the beach, the Oregon coast does not have warm water. Please enjoy your new adventures and then sew something to commemprate a successful catch. Sewing is like fishing, it also feeds the soul.
Comment by Kit — March 14, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
There is fishing and there is “gone Fishing”. Fishing is where you actively strive to catch a lot of fish. “Gone Fishing” is where you take the pole, never bait it, throw it in the water and sit back and relax and enjoy just being near the water or sitting with family and friends or just snoozing. Remember the old picture with the sign post of gone fishing by NOrma Rockwell. I used to go fishing with my dad before he passed away. He taught me both kinds of fishing.
Comment by Mary — March 15, 2010 @ 7:57 am
How delightful it is to hear my friend so very happy and tranquil. You take me there, away from the Illinois chill, and into the paradise that is the warm beaches of Florida. Good job of making me jelous! I’m preparing for a visit, SOON
Comment by Fran Saundle — March 15, 2010 @ 7:59 am
It’s not always about the catch, the serene sounds of the water and birds calms the soul and lifts the spirit. The hum of my sewing machine gives me that kind of serenity.
Comment by Beth in Kentucky — March 15, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Julie lives in beautiful sunny Sarasota Florida.
Comment by Julie — March 15, 2010 @ 4:20 pm