Rich Conley writes:
Gig Harbor, Washington began as a fishing village just after the US Civil War.
It remained a sleepy fishing village for many years.
Today, the old waterfront downtown experiences traffic jams on weekends,
and boat marinas crowd the waterfront.
The old commercial fishing fleet has dwindled to a few dozen purse-seiners.
Each year groups of two and three boats, traveling in partnership for safety,
set course for the salmon rich waters off Alaska,
A swift out-going tide marks the start of the three day boat journey.
Traditionally, family and friends gather at the harbor's narrow entrance
to wave and shout good-byes to their loved ones as they begin their travel.
The boats blast their horns and the crews cheer and wave back.
Within minutes, the boats exit the harbor, disappearing northward up Colvos
passage,
and thread their way past Seattle and other cities on their northward travel.
The women folk chat for a while after the boats disappear,
returning to their empty homes soon thereafter.
With the grace of God, skill and luck, they will see
their loved ones safe again when the boats return in September.
To witness this simple event is to feel the heart wrenching twist
that accompanies the silent fear every relative has for the crews safety.
Alan Marriage never knew that his group email
would cause my wife and I to become part of that simple ceremony.
You see, groopster Andy Belisle and I met up through groop email.
Andy shares my shop and we occasionally collaborate on projects.
And it was last evening that Andy was on the St. Christopher,
a commercial purse-seiner, headed for Alaska to cast their nets.
I'll leave it to Andy to tell why he chose to spend summer in Alaska.
(Who wouldn't, given the chance, not only for free, but for a fat paycheck if
the catch is good!?!?)
But it was me and my wife standing on overlook at the harbor's entrance,
cheering the departing crews on their way, and chatting with Andy's better half
after the boats had gone.
The repercussions of groop mail, like the expanding circles of splashed water,
are still traveling.
Who could tell?
RichC.
Gig Harbor, WA
