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October 3, 2006
Fishing!
And how Super Mum saved my blog...
So, I have nothing for you today. I haven't had any bridge incidents, or technological disasters, or travel emergencies, because I am currently working hard on my first Young Adult book (and playing Spider Solitaire, but don't tell anybody, heh, heh) and have barely left the apartment. In fact nothing has happened at all. Which based on my life might be a good thing.
Anyway, I am heading off to America very shortly to a) spend time with Teenager No 1, b) spend time visiting friends, c) spend time visiting the outlets, and d) spend time with my writing buddies at the New Jersey Romance Author's conference next weekend. So a little while ago I called my mother (Super Mum) to have a little gossip, and say, "farewell, speak to you next week," and generally have a little moan about ideas for my blog.
This is the conversation we had.
Super Mum: "I forgot to tell you - the other day our so-and-so went fishing, and he asked me to store his jar of maggots in my refrigerator, and I said no."
Me: "Eeuw! Wise move.That's too disgusting.
Super Mum: "So why don't you blog about fishing?"
Me (shaking head in bewilderment): "But I HATE fishing. Why would I write about it? I mean, given the choice of beating myself with soggy wet lettuce and going fishing, the soggy wet lettuce has a good chance of winning!"
Super Mum (patiently): "Yes dear, I know, but remember how much more you used to hate it when Granddad thought you loved it and took you fishing regularly?"
Me (with a sigh): "Oh, yes...I'd forgotten about those cold, dark mornings in the freezing cold, wrapped up in multiple layers of clothes, on the riverbank, with nothing but Granddad, a fishing rod, soggy egg sandwiches, and a jar of maggots for company. I mean Granddad was good company, usually, but we had to stay silent on account of the fish being scared. Hmm, I'd forgotten about that. Thankfully."
Super Mum: "And you could mention that you never told Granddad that you hated fishing, and how he bought you fishing-related Christmas and birthday presents - remember that new fishing reel he bought for you when you were fifiteen? After we all dropped such big hints about that Donny Osmond album you wanted, too."
Me: "Actually, it wasn't the Donny album. I was so over my Donny period by then. I'm pretty sure I'd moved on to John Bon Jovi by then..."
Super Mum: "Or that nice tackle box he made for you when you were sixteen? Now I come to think of it, didn't he buy you a fishing net when you were twenty? Did he ever stop buying you fishing presents?"
Me: "You know, I think he bought me a subscription to Angler's News, or something, even after I moved to London. Just so I could keep my hand in if I wanted to. I'd forgotten about that."
Super Mum: "And you could talk about how fishermen suck their maggots to make them plump and white..."
Me: "Eeuw, no! That's too horrible!"
Super Mum: "Or the fact that your great grandfather and great great grandfather were both Fishing Champion of England..."
Me: "They were? That explains the family's obsession with fishing, then."
Super Mum: "Or you could tell them about great great Uncle Thingie who deserted his wife and seven children, and ran off to London with his fancy woman and.-"
Me: "That's more like it. Give me the dirt. Tell me more."
Super Mum: "I'm sure your readers will be more interested in the fishing than the fancy woman. Anyway, I'm going to let you go, and I'm going to make a nice cup of tea. Have a lovely trip, love!" Click.
So there you go. No family scandal today. Just fishing.
Michelle
Posted by Michelle at 12:00 AM | Comments (10)
Comments
I love to go fishing! :)
Posted by: TeresaH at October 3, 2006 4:50 AM
I love that term "fancy woman." You should title a book that!! See you in three days!!
Posted by: Alesia Holliday ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 3, 2006 9:38 AM
OMG! I must hear about Uncle Thingie!
Posted by: Lani at October 3, 2006 10:15 AM
Wait. Fishermen suck their maggots? Gah! How?
I'm so revolted, it's quite possible that I may never eat again.
Posted by: Whitney at October 3, 2006 12:33 PM
One of my cousins, in an attempt to be polite about my great-aunt's ratatouille, went so far overboard that my great-aunt thought my cousin LOVED her ratatouille more than anything and served it every time she came to visit. My cousin dutifully choked it down with a smile every time even though she detests eggplant.
Methinks you may have been too polite to grandpa and, you know what, good for you! Well, except for maybe the maggot sucking part.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 3, 2006 2:40 PM
I love to fish--well, I used to love to fish until I was old enough to have to purchase a license to do so. Since then it has never been really high up on my list of priorities as something I need to spend money on!
What is this about maggots?! Oh, gag! Worms were bad enough--and you say he SUCKED on the nasty little things?!! Can we just say "EEWWW!!"?!! I'm with Whitney--I may never eat again (but since this new diet is so hard to start, it might just be the thing to get me kick-started!!)!
Love the fact that you never let on to your grandpa that you didn't like fishing. Must have made him very happy buying you all those fishing-related things throughout the years--you were a good granddaughter!
Posted by: Sheri at October 3, 2006 5:36 PM
Add me to the list of those who want to know about Uncle Thingie and the fancy lady. Heck, I want to know why he was known as Uncle Thingie!
Posted by: Dia at October 3, 2006 6:53 PM
Regarding great great Uncle Thingie and his fancy woman, I will drill Super Mum for more details when I get back to Rotterdam...
Meanwhile, back at the maggot farm, sorry to gross you all out - but my family is (or was) more serious about its fishing than I thought. I wonder if that was the secret of great Granddad and great great Granddad's fishing championness.
PS. I had a friend who lived near a maggot farm. Let's just say that when the wind blew in the wrong direction, we barricaded the doors and windows from the smell...
Egads, you can always trust me to lower the tone, LOL
Posted by: Michelle C at October 4, 2006 5:23 AM
You know, they invented plastic bait for fishing. No more live bait. It's divine for squeemish fisher persons like me. Right up until I catch the fish and have to get my Daddy to take it off the line for me -- and he mocks my 40-something baby whining and gets my 6 year old to do it.
Fishing. Overrated.
Sitting on dock with bellini at sunset awaiting fisher-family members to return. Priceless.
Posted by: Cynthia at October 4, 2006 7:40 PM
Cynthia,
I will be sure to pass on the synthetic bait thing to Super Mum so that she is never again asked if she will store live bait in her refrigerator (eeuuwww!).
In the meantime, can I join you on the dock? I will bring a bottle of Shiraz, LOL.
Posted by: Michelle C at October 5, 2006 10:13 PM
