Jennie@ifish
09-15-2002, 07:51 AM
Thought I'd just copy what I wrote on the front page to recap...
What a great time!
Only thing-- How can we encourage all the older members and mods to join us? How can we pick a good time for most?
The near Christmas event that we were talking about, held in Portland, might be the ticket. Feelings? I think it would be great if most of the members, old and new could gather in one spot.
What a great time we had!!!
Here is my recap:
September 15th
What a blast! The roast pig was divine! Salads, and cakes, and pies, oh my! Salmon and smoked tuna, crabs and fresh corn on the cob, and ifish friends, divine!
At about 4:00, party time, I started getting worried. "Was anyone going to come?" I paced, rather nervously, adjusting paper plates, napkins, and readying last minute details.
Thumper heard me worry, turned toward the prize layout and said, "If no one comes, Jennie, we will be just fine!" He glanced at the two beautiful rods laying on the "Winner's Choice table. One TH, and one Lamiglas, and said, "Which one would you like? :smile: He's such a gentleman! :smile:
Then, from out of the woods, as if from nowhere, the people emerged! Trucks and boats and cars! Carrying foods and delicacies, people stopped at registration to fill out their name tag with their moniker.
"OH! You are???"
How fun it is to meet people that you know from only a handle, and what a great group of people! It's like a 'coming out' party! :smile:
No matter how much fun I had, though, last night, laying totally exhausted in bed, I began to cry.
It had been an extremely emotional day.
It started when I drove to the park, early in the morning, only to find Waterdog and Kiwanda Kid, roasting the pig. They had promised me no face on the pig. I don't like a face on my meat. It had a face on it.
It had a face on that pig!!
At first sight, I was upset, but after seeing the careful preparation and how excited these men were, with their project, I caught the chest beating attitude too! Gr!!! Animal! Kill! Eat!
Dang, but it did look tasty! Much thanks to those guys. They worked so hard on that pig!
With any upset disolved into excitement, I was quickly off to the Disabled Anglers Day. I wasn't emotionally prepared. I showed up with a smile, greeting people that I have known in the fishing world for quite some time. I listened to Bill fill me in on what we were to do. I had to miss the opening welcome speech, because I had to pick up David's friends.
At 10:00 A.M., the kids began to arrive. I was still fine-- for a while.
Then the activity picked up, and I met my first fishing partner. The excitement in her eyes, the anticipation.... Uh Oh. My eyes began to well up, and they wouldn't stop. Seeing all these kids around me so excited at this opportunity. Seeing the adults, so willing and ready to help... Seeing these huge monster trout on a child's line, and their eyes as big as saucers.... I lost it.
"Uh, Bill? Can you help this little girl?"
I turned away to gain my composure. I was afraid I wasn't very good at this task, if I couldn't keep my emotions in check.
I soon toughened up enough to continue, my tears went away, and a permafix smile, ear to ear, accompanied me through the rest of the event.
Hooray for The Tillamook Anglers, in a big, big, way! What an AWESOME event!
O.K., off to set up for the party.
Truck load after truck load, I hauled things to the party location.
People came, people ate, people laughed and hugged.
Crabbait was our M.C., and we had a blast giving out prizes. All the children left with a prize.
Then, onto the adult prizes.
I spent my time visiting with newer members. I don't think I spent 5 minutes eating, myself. I was too busy helping out with things, visiting, and shuffling my kids back and fourth from the party, to the house. My boys, and three of their friends, keeps me hopping!
As darkness came on, people began to leave.
It took Bill and I about an hour to clean the place up, and get everything loaded.
A small group lingered by the fire, rehashing the days events, and whispering small talk. I joined them, before heading back home.
When I finally stretched out beneath fresh sheets and a down comforter, I pet Kilchis, and the tears came. I cried like the Motherless child I am, and that made me cry even harder.
I'm not sure what started it.
Perhaps because some of our old time members weren't able to attend, and I remembered the days when ifish was a small, tightly knit group. I missed so many people.
Perhaps partly because it was all over and done, and this was letdown time. Perhaps partly because now, I face surgery looming large and very real, in the very near future. Three days, and counting.
Perhaps it's just because I'm female.
I snuggled up close to a very sleepy Kilchis pup, and pet and kissed the silky soft side of his face. I think, mostly, I cried out of sheer exhaustion.
Ifishstock 2002... over and out.
Thank God, I woke this morning with a refreshed outlook, fond memories of new friends that I met last night, and warm recollections of hugs from older members.
www.ifish.net.... (http://www.ifish.net....) What a strange and wonderful trip this has been.
I deeply thank God for so much--For all the friendship and experience that ifish has brought me. For my life, which is truly more full and rich than I could have ever hoped.
The rain falls for the first time in what feels like months. It's a fresh start, and onto Fall.
What a great time!
Only thing-- How can we encourage all the older members and mods to join us? How can we pick a good time for most?
The near Christmas event that we were talking about, held in Portland, might be the ticket. Feelings? I think it would be great if most of the members, old and new could gather in one spot.
What a great time we had!!!
Here is my recap:
September 15th
What a blast! The roast pig was divine! Salads, and cakes, and pies, oh my! Salmon and smoked tuna, crabs and fresh corn on the cob, and ifish friends, divine!
At about 4:00, party time, I started getting worried. "Was anyone going to come?" I paced, rather nervously, adjusting paper plates, napkins, and readying last minute details.
Thumper heard me worry, turned toward the prize layout and said, "If no one comes, Jennie, we will be just fine!" He glanced at the two beautiful rods laying on the "Winner's Choice table. One TH, and one Lamiglas, and said, "Which one would you like? :smile: He's such a gentleman! :smile:
Then, from out of the woods, as if from nowhere, the people emerged! Trucks and boats and cars! Carrying foods and delicacies, people stopped at registration to fill out their name tag with their moniker.
"OH! You are???"
How fun it is to meet people that you know from only a handle, and what a great group of people! It's like a 'coming out' party! :smile:
No matter how much fun I had, though, last night, laying totally exhausted in bed, I began to cry.
It had been an extremely emotional day.
It started when I drove to the park, early in the morning, only to find Waterdog and Kiwanda Kid, roasting the pig. They had promised me no face on the pig. I don't like a face on my meat. It had a face on it.
It had a face on that pig!!
At first sight, I was upset, but after seeing the careful preparation and how excited these men were, with their project, I caught the chest beating attitude too! Gr!!! Animal! Kill! Eat!
Dang, but it did look tasty! Much thanks to those guys. They worked so hard on that pig!
With any upset disolved into excitement, I was quickly off to the Disabled Anglers Day. I wasn't emotionally prepared. I showed up with a smile, greeting people that I have known in the fishing world for quite some time. I listened to Bill fill me in on what we were to do. I had to miss the opening welcome speech, because I had to pick up David's friends.
At 10:00 A.M., the kids began to arrive. I was still fine-- for a while.
Then the activity picked up, and I met my first fishing partner. The excitement in her eyes, the anticipation.... Uh Oh. My eyes began to well up, and they wouldn't stop. Seeing all these kids around me so excited at this opportunity. Seeing the adults, so willing and ready to help... Seeing these huge monster trout on a child's line, and their eyes as big as saucers.... I lost it.
"Uh, Bill? Can you help this little girl?"
I turned away to gain my composure. I was afraid I wasn't very good at this task, if I couldn't keep my emotions in check.
I soon toughened up enough to continue, my tears went away, and a permafix smile, ear to ear, accompanied me through the rest of the event.
Hooray for The Tillamook Anglers, in a big, big, way! What an AWESOME event!
O.K., off to set up for the party.
Truck load after truck load, I hauled things to the party location.
People came, people ate, people laughed and hugged.
Crabbait was our M.C., and we had a blast giving out prizes. All the children left with a prize.
Then, onto the adult prizes.
I spent my time visiting with newer members. I don't think I spent 5 minutes eating, myself. I was too busy helping out with things, visiting, and shuffling my kids back and fourth from the party, to the house. My boys, and three of their friends, keeps me hopping!
As darkness came on, people began to leave.
It took Bill and I about an hour to clean the place up, and get everything loaded.
A small group lingered by the fire, rehashing the days events, and whispering small talk. I joined them, before heading back home.
When I finally stretched out beneath fresh sheets and a down comforter, I pet Kilchis, and the tears came. I cried like the Motherless child I am, and that made me cry even harder.
I'm not sure what started it.
Perhaps because some of our old time members weren't able to attend, and I remembered the days when ifish was a small, tightly knit group. I missed so many people.
Perhaps partly because it was all over and done, and this was letdown time. Perhaps partly because now, I face surgery looming large and very real, in the very near future. Three days, and counting.
Perhaps it's just because I'm female.
I snuggled up close to a very sleepy Kilchis pup, and pet and kissed the silky soft side of his face. I think, mostly, I cried out of sheer exhaustion.
Ifishstock 2002... over and out.
Thank God, I woke this morning with a refreshed outlook, fond memories of new friends that I met last night, and warm recollections of hugs from older members.
www.ifish.net.... (http://www.ifish.net....) What a strange and wonderful trip this has been.
I deeply thank God for so much--For all the friendship and experience that ifish has brought me. For my life, which is truly more full and rich than I could have ever hoped.
The rain falls for the first time in what feels like months. It's a fresh start, and onto Fall.