June2011 Jennie's Fishing Life/ Fishing the Coast Oregon and Washington

June 4th

Never. Not in a million years have I been this late in wishing you all a Happy June!
I'm off to my niece' wedding, this morning. I can't believe, but I'm so excited that she has such a beautiful day in which to get married! Yay, Allison!
Anyhow, I'm late, as usual... so I'll go.
Never have I missed the Bounty on the Bay tournament! Wah!
But... I must go. Family first!

June 5th

I want to study geography.
I didn't study well in high school. I find now that as I look back, the art of studying is the most valuable thing to learn! However, it's difficult to teach, as people all learn in different ways.
I did pretty well in school. Not great, but if I wanted to get a good grade, I could, and without too much trouble.
I had perfect pitch in music, and when I got to college, we had this test where the professor would drop a needle on a record, in the middle of a work of music, and we were to tell her the key it was in. Now, most people had to study and listen and recall. But, since I had perfect pitch, I could just listen and know. So, of course, I didn't study. I "cheated!" I guess? Whatever, when the prof. found out I had perfect pitch, I got in trouble!
I guess in geography, I just quick studied and remembered, but just as quickly, forgot. I don't know how I got thru it, because I am so dumb now, in geography!
I just received an e mail that there was an earthquake West of Macquarie Island. I guess I'm still learning, as I googled it, and found it, and now I'll remember that! I wish I were one of those people that knew where it was, without Googling. Kids, don't cheat! Listen, learn, study!
It's really gotten to me, lately, especially. I don't want to die, not knowing things!
It's not everyone that when they go to lock a door, that they think twice, "If I die, will people be able to get in?" And I do think those things. Even in ladies bathrooms!
But, also, along with those thoughts, I know that I need to live every day, as richly as I am able.
I had a doctor's appointment this week and I looked at him straight in the eye and asked, "How long do you think I'll live?" He, too, was baffled! I could tell! I honestly should not be alive.
I mean, it was what? Six years ago, that I was told, "If you want to travel, travel now." I thought I knew what that meant, when my surgeon told me that, but just to be sure, the next appointment, I asked, "What did you mean by that?" I was straight with him, and I hoped the return would be the same. He gave me a short talk on how doctors are in a strange position in answering questions like that, but the long and short of it was, that yes, there was a good chance I wouldn't make it long. How long, no one knows, but in the near future, I'll have to have my aorta repaired again. It's not a pretty operation.
But, then again.... here I am! Still kickin'! Not only did I last this long with a totally dissected aorta, but now I've survived cancer, too! Am I indestructible? I should never get to thinking that way! But, it's really tough to make financial decisions. And, at the same time, I know that we should all live like today is our last day! I know that like not many others!
I mean seriously. It's frustrating! Do I buy a house, or do I travel? I can't travel far, because I have my Kilchi-my-cuteso! (That's me puppy!) He wouldn't enjoy plane trips and I'd have to take him with me!
So, I'm still looking for an affordable house, and I'll just plan short trips in the US. Not be gone too long, and yet live a rich and full life, every day!
Oh, my. Bill just called. He donated a trip to the Steelheaders and Russell Basset bought it. He took Josiah Darr with him, also. They are... get this. "stuck on a sand bar until about 3 PM. It is now 9 in the morning. Oh, BILL! Oh, ohhhhh Bill!
And to think I almost went, too!
The good news is that they have a salmon in the box. The bad news? Oh, ohhhhh, Bill!
The old saying goes, "The only people who haven't been stuck on the sand bar in Tillamook Bay are the people who haven't been stuck...yet."
They are out by Ray's place.
Oh, yeah! Guess who won the tournament, yesterday? Bounty on the Bay!?! George Buckingham and his brother! They really did well, with three nice big spring chinook! They even had another, but it had too many fins. Way to go, you guys!
Study the bay! It's a good idea that everyone buy a copy of these beautiful aerial pictures of Tillamook Bay. Look under "Galleries/Tillamook Bay 2011"
If you are interested you can contact Don at drbest@oregoncoast.com and study the bay!
They help, but yes. Almost everyone gets stuck in Tillamook Bay at one time or another. The only time I was stuck, we were only stuck for 10 minutes. So, I hope that pays my dues. And yes. When I was stuck, I actually did think that if something happened to me, then, how would an ambulance get to me?
Bill has even figured out where life flight should land in our meadow, if the worst were to happen. He has it all mapped out.
To think that some people don't even think twice about their daily lives leaves me scratching my head, because it's not just me. I have been lucky enough to have my road lay out before me. Even if it isn't correct, even if I live to be 95, by some strange chance, I am blessed with knowing that life is fragile and that I must live each day like it's my last. I feel like it's a real gift, that I've been blessed with.
Even if I choose to live with the doors unlocked, at all times. :)

June 9th

I went for a wonderful walk last afternoon.
The air was perfectly still. The clouds were heavy and low and the river was without movement, except for the slow current of late Spring.
There were shades of aging redds in the river, and the otters played on the other side. I sat for the longest time, while Kilchis dug a hole. Rev roamed and swam and frolicked.
Tiny purple blossoms burst out of the deep green grasses around me and it made everything right. The river heals me!
I went for a short canoe ride, and Molly the river cat came along. She sat in the bow as we paddled around, looking for the first time, at the changes the river has made.
Molly cleaned herself a while, and then with me, began staring into the depths as we swirled around in a current.
It's a wonder we didn't float off into the abyss. By the time I looked up, I was yards from where I started. Quick! Paddle upstream!
The bottom of the river is more shallow, each year. The very deepest hole in "the bedroom hole" is filling in, each year, and the home side of our river bank is chunking off, and getting deeper, by shore. I wonder what it will be like in ten years? 20? I wonder if someone out there in some geography study is watching it from a satellite, and wondering if they should put rocks in, to stop the changes. Do they do that?
The road to the Kilchis Park has been trimmed of its Spring overgrowth. I was so hoping they'd let it grow, this year. I was hoping that the road crew didn't have enough money, this year, to keep it trimmed back. I mean, they don't fix the potholes as often with the reduced budget... so, well? I was just hoping! But, it's been trimmed. It is still green and lush. Soon, summer will come and the green will fade, but right now, it's beautiful!
Bill and I let the tiny baby chickens out into the pen with the bigger chicks and they are doing fine. It was good to get them out of the laundry room and into the chicken house.
The first thing they did, was to take a dust bath. Now, how did they know to do that? No one taught them!
How do fish know to pick the right river to spawn in? Who taught them?
Now, the chicks are out of their cage, and doing a meet and greet with the "older ladies"!
We have this tiny little baby chicken. Her name is Yellow because... she is yellow! But, she's a banty, and the very smallest of them all. But, you'd never know it, by the way she is. She is brave and adventurous and so fun to watch! She gets out there with the big chickens and bosses them around, even though she's knee high to 'them' grass hoppers!
Andrew has been walking, each day... hiking, actually, and getting in shape. I guess he and his friend have carved out a neat little trail along the riverside, by walking it, each day. I have to go with them, to see where it takes me!
I'm worried about Stan Fagerstrom, and I have to write him, to see how his houses in Arizona are faring. Stan? I'm worried about you and yours!
I have this little male hummingbird this year, that visits me each morning. I can tell he's the same one by his coloring and size. Every day, he sits on the feeder and if it's not fresh, he just stares at me, until I change it.
Yesterday, I was out checking the raspberries, and he came to sit at a branch, and stare at me. He was so cute! I talked to him for the longest time and he just sat there and cocked his little head, flitted his wings, but didn't fly off for the longest time! It's so nice to get to know things around here. To get to know a certain bird, or watch a certain fish for days, as it builds its redd.
I do believe that the same birds come back, year after year. They know the way things work, where the feeders are, and what to expect.
As I look for a home in Portland, I see feeders in the pictures that I look at. The feeders were probably filled daily, and the same birds got to know those places. And then, the people move and the feeders go vacant, too. It worries me! I feel like I need to buy those homes, just to fill the feeders!
I woke with such a better attitude. The world looks better, when I sleep well.
In my mind, the puppy that was not being cared for right, is happy and playing, somewhere.
The young man I met in blue has a better attitude.
And the young man in the black Lexus is checking his blind spot.
Life is better when I feel good.
So, so much better!