DOC FISHERMAN
G'day guys,
Ever meet someone who surprised you? I've met plenty, and today I offer a short anecdote about a guy I met when I was working in the hospitality industry.
Working in the hospitality industry
means long hours of work, often early mornings and very late finishes. However,
I did have several hours off during the day and often went fishing at one of
the many rivers that surrounded the small but beautiful town I lived in. It was a great way to relax when you
were what I called, ‘peopled out’. Marysville was a magnificent area for
fishing with at least five rivers to choose from.
One Saturday morning I
happened to be fishing on the Taggerty River and ran into another fisherman
named Rod. We spent some time together and chatted about fishing. He was a
great guy. Like many anglers, he was a guy who disliked eating fish but loved
to catch and release.
I
was well prepared when I went fishing. I always took plenty of food, water,
bait and coffee. When lunchtime came around, Rod informed me that he’d left his
lunch in the fridge at home in Melbourne. I didn’t hesitate. I shared my salad
rolls, coffee scrolls and coffee with him. He was most grateful and we had a
great day. We caught three trout each and agreed to meet back at the same spot
in two weeks. For the next three months Rod and I met and fished all over the
district. Each time he brought some delicious surprise for me; a slice or cake
his wife had made.
Rod and I always chatted
about politics, fishing, the environment and world affairs; rarely did we chat
about personal things. On that note, I knew Rod worked in a hospital but I
never really knew what he actually did so I asked him. I’d assumed he worked in
administration. His reply was somewhat gob smacking, considering I’d known him
for months.
‘I’m
a surgeon,’ he replied.
‘Bloody
hell, Rod. I never knew that.’ He grinned at my reply. Then he told me heaps
about his work. I learned that he was one of Australia’s leading heart
surgeons. He was also a good bloke and a good fisherman. His wife, Milly, was a
bloody good cook too.
That
was years ago, but Rod and I have stayed in touch. Amazing who you’re likely to
meet on a riverbank, eh?
Clancy's comment: There ya go. Fishing is a great sport; open to all sorts of folks. And, life is full of twists and turns, eh?
Another review for
'Pa Joe's Place'
“It is a wonderful story that I will purchase many copies
of so I can give it to friends and family as gifts - can't wait.”
HeatherJoy
Brown, U3A Student, Australia
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