It’s funny the things you remember from the pages of your own personal time line, from then to till now. Most recently my reflection was precipitated by the taste of mulberries, by far my most favourite fruit though you never see them in Coles or Woolies and not even Aldi. Maybe its the memories recaptured, and not just the ones about the creek where my friends and I caught tadpoles and gorged ourselves on mulberries. Far as Im concerned there was no greater time I had than those mornings and at at times later afternoons, besides family holidays and going to the exhibition speedway on a Saturday night until the patience of the patients at the Royal Brisbane Hospital dissipated like so many other things. Back to mulberries and more particularly the tadpoles we took home with the hope of breeding more until our dad informed us that those cute little tadpoles would soon turn into cane toads (if you live in QLD).
One more lesson learnt like so many others which I am truly grateful for now, 45 years later. Another thing that Dad taught my brothers and I was how to fish, well at least to bait hand lines and drop them over the side of the boat. Dad also exhumed patience, though I imagine that he must have got frustrated at the constant cries of “ Dad, can you untangle my line and “stop him from looking at me” We enjoyed these fishing expeditions and I hope Dad did too despite the turmoil we caused. Years later he was still fishing and I think enjoying it just a bit more, left in peace as I was working by then. I remember I’d ask him every time how many fish he caught. Sometimes the answer was 5 or 6 and sometimes none or 1. I was always amazed that his cheerful demeanour never wavered even if he’d been out there for 6 hours and came home with zip.
I must admit I felt frustrated for him at times as I did not understand his cheerful expression. “Mick, whether I catch a fish or not I just enjoy being out on the water, smelling the salt air”. he’d say to me.
I did not realise or even appreciate what he meant by this until years later when I found myself in a similar situation, fishing off the bank in Biggera Waters, not catching anything but just enjoying the time. You see, it’s not about catching fish as much as it is about being present in the moment and truly alive. I was perfectly content being in the sun, with a light breeze and the sight and smell of the sea surrounding me.
Thank you Dad
