I didn’t go fishing this May to Leech Lake, Walker, Minnesota. Why?? Cause Minnesota Governor Waltz said fishing was okay as long as you didn’t stay away form home overnight. (Leech Lake is an overnight stay.)
I was feeling very depressed about not fishing. New neighbors moved in from Leech Lake with a very nice Pontoon – even a live well. They said I could fish off their pontoon opening weekend, as they weren’t using it till the weekend after the opening weekend. After many, many thanks, happy days were here again!!
I dug worms, got my rod and reel ready, put a barbless hook on the line (for catch and release) and I was ready for the fishing opener Saturday, May 9.
I got up early Saturday, ate a cold cereal breakfast, plenty of coffee and out the door, across the street, up onto their pontoon by 7 a.m. With temperature 26 degrees, I bait the barbless hook with a big worm and make my first cast – a strike, but I missed it. I re-bait the barbless hook with a big worm and same result – no worm and I missed it. This kept happening, a strike, missed it, worm gone. With 26 degree temp, I’m very cold – one last cast. Success, I reel in a robin, catch and release, get down off their pontoon, walk across the street home to coffee, donut and a nap. Readers, that is my opening day of Minnesota fishing and I’m sticking to it!
The next day was Sunday, Mother’s day. We watched the church service from 1st Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on TV channel 6 out of Austin. Part of the service was the baptism of a baby boy. In the evening we purchased food at Wendy’s drive through and ate it while watching two groundhogs at Big Island State Park. In driving around the park we saw ducks, geese, pelicans, eagles, a hen and rooster pheasant plus lots of deer.
During the cold mother’s day weekend, a sign at North Bridge mall in Albert Lea read, “Spring has been cancelled.”
Sign at a Minnesota bait shop, “Our minnows are guaranteed to catch fish or die trying.”
Have you seen any masked bandits? They are everywhere. I saw one wearing a Vikings mask. A great lady CEO made a Twins mask for me. On the back of the mask it reads, “Made in the USA by Genie.”
“Reading is dreaming with your eyes wide open,” is a great message in multiple chalk colors on the driveway of the Chris and Erin Lowe family. Sons Isaac and Elijah have created a book exchange at their house located at 200 Burr Oak Drive, Albert Lea. The boys have formed a Facebook group named, “Burr Oak Neighbors Albert Lea MN.” (They would appreciate a two-horn honk as you drive by.)
Coronavirus has created a new word in the English language. Because head hair just gets longer and longer due to all hair cutting businessees being closed. The new word is “shortcut” as that is the result of most stay at home haircuts. (The haircut is too short!)
The Star Eagle is delivered by mail on Thursdays in our mailbox. On Thursday morning May 14, I walked my early morning walk and got the mail out of the mailbox about 11 a.m. I started reading the Star Eagle and woke up as Genie hollered lunch was ready. I looked at the paper as I woke up and noticed it read Thursday, May 14, 2022. Panic, I’d slept two years, I’d pulled a Rip Van Winkle. (I later found much to my relief the paper made an error.)
P.S. Genie and I are doing therapy to help us with the virus problem. It’s called dirt therapy!