A Fishing Trophy!

My late mother loved to go fishing. She was a born lady and was an example to many more than me and my sister. She grew Orchids. She was a well known painter. She was a past president of the Woman's Institute. She led the Homemaker's 4-H Club locally for years, but really, she was just a country girl her whole life.


She's been gone about two years and a half now and I like to bring out some of her photos and shuffle through them, like I'm sure you all do. It's starting to be long enough ago that she died that the pictures are bringing me more pleasure than pain and I would like to share one of my favourite.


Somewhere on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario, Canada, my mom and her friend Jim spent a few holidays at the Red Lodge. (I think it was called.) Every summer, the lodge owners would record the length and weight of the fish caught by their guests, then skin them and cook them..... made to order. Each summer the record holder's picture would be hung in a new spot on the faded walls of the Lodge ...


And guess who took the biggest catch honor one year?

This is my beautiful mother with her record breaking trout. Taken in her early eighties and she was loving every minute of every day. I learned many lessons by her side and one was:


"You get old quick if you sit down!"


Take my momma's lesson to heart and just enjoy. Do whatever you can every single day. In November of 2006, she was driving herself to the casino and was gone by the middle of February.


She would like to know she has taken her place here in my Blog, sharing every day like she always did.


Hi Ma!