Chapter Three
FISHER-GIRL
Sun. July 17th
Bonjour Meme,
I'm using the knowledge and wisdom that pappy blessed me with over the years, to live off of the land, and sea. I'll see if I start to feel better if I stop eating most of the foods from Marvella. I think the foods keeping me alive are killing me! What else can explain my illnesses and unhinged writing?
Meme, I'm wholeheartedly thankful for the foods and grains I've been given; still, I think I'll start gathering my own foods. Even though the foods at Marvella taste fine, and I'm thoroughly cooking the foods, thru-and-thru; what else can explain the stomach cramps, fevers, and delusions I'm constantly facing?
After today's catch, I know I can succeed. Miles told me, "You fish like a girl!" Even so, Miles was always mean to me, but I can forgive him; he tried to save me. I know he misses me, as much as I miss him, it has to be so; he tried to find me.
I'd like to think Miles would be proud of me like pappy would be proud of me. I caught a sockeye and two smaller pink salmon by simply casting my line off the basalt palisades on the east side of my island, and using the rockfish I was catching as bait; and keeping the bait moving in the water as pappy taught me.
I threw most of the rockfish back in the ocean because I was worried about getting sick. Pappy said, "They're bottom-feeders, Lainey; they absorb pollution from the ocean bottom!"
But I kept all of the proper-size lingcod, and halibut I caught, as pappy said, "For the halibut!"
And I thoroughly cleaned the fish of all guts, skins and heads. I'll make sure I completely cure the fish I don't cook and eat. And I'll check the crab and shrimp pots tomorrow morning. But I don't expect much action.
As a side note: I think I've kept good track of the days of the month. We had a full buck moon on Friday, which was two days ago. I'm keeping busy with work; distractions make the sadness and loneliness less sad and lonely.
Sleep well tonight, meme.