Five days goes fast when that’s the fix to carry you through the next three months without your sweetheart. Cap’n J and I made the most of it, though. Breakfast with our favorite folks at The Little Cheerful. Family snuggle time with Bear. Making Sunday pancakes together. A sunny morning strolling the Farmer’s Market, enjoying street performers and gloriously fresh raspberries, marveling at the fact that Joel could stroll with me. Even at a slow, tender pace, his mobility was worlds ahead of where I’d left him a month earlier, when he’d been crutches-confined, barely able to give me a wobbly hug.
On Saturday night, for Joel’s first photography trek since his injury, we drove up to Mount Baker so he could shoot the supermoon rising over Mount Shuksan. There’s no more powerful medicine for Cap’n J than that he finds in nature, so this clear evening was special for us both. Seems like one that you could appreciate, too.
And now it’s time for the next thing. Marlin pulled into town yesterday, and after a dizzying series of transitions – Kathleen Jo, sailboat, Down South, house, Up North, sailboat – I’m happily settled in for the salmon season. We’re heading out today, leaving to get into position for our July 1 king salmon opening, expected to last about six days.
Hard as it still is for me to comprehend that Joel and I aren’t running the Nerka together this season, it’s always harder to be the person left on land, and never more so than in this situation. Cap’n J’s the guy who leaps out of the bunk at 2:45 on July 1st, singing how much he loves catching king salmon. If you talk with him over the next week, would you give him some sweetness from me?
Be well, friends — we’ll be in touch.
I’m so jealous that you got such a perfect view of the moon. Wasn’t much where I was. Glad Cap’n J is better. Safe travels for you.
Hi, Sweets! Be safe in your travels! I still have the salmon teeth you gifted me with, they are about 3 feet from where I’m sitting in my studio. I think they add to the healing power in this room! I have some friends up there fishing the season. They are from NM where they spend the rest of the year. Mark is a logger in Ruidosa and his wife, Dana, has a health spa! Wonderful folks! They gave me many packets of wild salmon they caught and froze as a tip after some bodywork last fall. Her sister is my good friend, Donna Siedow. It is a very small world! A friend here in Galveston, Susan Lynch, bought a summer home on Sammish Island to beat the Texas heat. I can’t wait to hear how it goes with you this season!! I guess I missed any blogs concerning J’s injuries? Praying for a complete and swift healing! Be well, love you mucho! You are never far from my mind or my prayers!! j
Dude! We need to meet, sometime! I don’t even know if we’ve met, even for the briefest ( is that a word) of times, maybe when you were really little. I don’t even know Ken that well, he’s older than me and was outside my world when I was growing up. I just knew I had Ken, cousin, older, he’s a vet in Alaska, then I met your mom at Aunt Frances and Uncle Als place in Bigfork, we talked at length, and then lost connections. Thank goodness my mom has kept in touch with Val, and there’s a lasting connection there, shared world vision, that gives me a line to her and hopefully to you, I think you are awesome. I see so much of my world vision, my view of the human condition, in your writing. I’m a huge fan, and I offer my support in any way possible, family, yes, and fellow journeymen through life. If I get a chance to go through your part of the country, I will see you for sure. If you find yourself journeying through Montana, I would love to come and see you!
Love and hugs,
Elaine
Great shot Joel! Just spent two says in Port Townsend at a writer’s workshop, and couldn’t get enough of the salt air. Smooth seas and good fishing, Tele!
Glad for your five days together. Gorgeous photo, Joel. Saw the moon the night before coming up over Newburgh and all the way home shining on the Hudson. Really beautiful. We were cloudy in on the big moon night. I was disappointed. Hope the tuna season is HUGE this year, Tele. Love to you both!
There is a Sven and Olé story about the time Olé broke his ankle loading gear one spring. Olé (in the short version) had to stay home for the first summer since he emigrated from Norway at age 15. It was a tough sumer for him, as all he knew was work and the schooner. ( Steve Snap told me this joke, btw) Well Olé never knew that he’d be so sought after in Ballard while all the men were away fishing… And when Sven got home and inquired with his wife, she figured “it vas daat snoooty Mrs. Olson on the t’ird floor”.
Maybe I’d better call Joel and tell him the details of this story?
Good luck on the opener; hope the fairweather banks live up to their name. We got the prospect of nasty NW down here.
Your love for each other, Tele and Joel, is a super moon over Mount Shuksan. No matter where you are, you’ll both be gazing at the same sweet moon. Bön voyage, Tele.
Stunning photo, and a wonderful feeling I am sure to have witnessed the supermoon like this. Hope it bodes well for an excellent season. Bonne Chance!
Beauty of a moon shot — fair weather to you both on land and sea.