I was mad. Well, maybe not mad, but very disappointed. In October, of every year for the past 10 years, Tammy and I, along with the Jacksons, Kevin, and Tara, have gone fishing in Portland, Maine. Well, Kevin and I fish. To be honest, I don't know what Tammy and Tara did other than sleep, shop, sightsee, and eat for eight days.
But last year the Jacksons had canceled on us at the last minute. We had already prepaid for our trip, from the airfare to the Air BNB right down to the fishing boat rental, gear, and guide.
I told Tammy I didn't want to cancel due to tradition, but more importantly, I didn't want to lose the percentages of the cancelation fees I'd incur if we did cancel, so instead I set out to convince her we'd make the most of the trip.
Tammy put up quite the argument, saying no to every suggestion I threw her way before coming up with a brilliant idea I would like to take credit for, but can not.
Tammy said, "Listen, you take our grandsons on adventures all across Texas and even into Oklahoma and up to Wyoming, so let's take the granddaughters! They can shop with me, we will sleep late and see, it will be fun! And since we only have 2 granddaughters, and the house sleeps 4 anyway, all we need is their airfare!"
I gave it some thought. She wasn't wrong. The week we spend in Maine is queer sex-free, Kevin and I do not have that kind of friendship, so that wouldn't be an issue. My only concern was my naked morning coffee time, but that had always taken place in our bedroom anyway since Kevin and Tara had been there. Sure, Tammy and I would fuck, we always have, therefore what would change? Nothing.
We invited the kids over, tossing the idea out to Matthew and Lori and Angel and Michelle, the parents of our granddaughters, and much to our surprise they all thought it would be an excellent way for us to spend time with the girls and make memories, so plans moved swiftly for our New England Trip!
We arrived on a Saturday morning and would be leaving the following Saturday afternoon, giving us ample time to enjoy Maine.
The girls were so excited, just as Tammy was.
Our Air BNB was the same as the past 4 years we had stayed in it. I still didn't get the whole concept of staying in a house where you had to fend for yourself, but I had grown more accustomed to it than I wanted to admit. I still like having bellhops and room service, honesty.
We all settled in perfectly, then took our rented SUV on a journey, seeing sights and such before my 6 a.m. cast off on Monday morning. The first two days would be spent at sea, coming back into port on Wednesday, then heading out again Thursday only to end the trip Friday afternoon at 2:00.
I had reminded Tammy of this, telling her she would basically be on the trip with two 14-year-old girls alone. She assured me all would be fine.
At 6 a.m. my Uber delivered me to the location of my guide, and I checked in, getting some bad news from Landon, the owner's son, boat captain, and guide I would be spending the next 5 days with.
My annoyance was through the roof!
I was informed that since Kevin canceled, Landon's dad, the owner of the boat and guide business had booked another fisherman in his place.
I was irritated at myself for not thinking to pay for the full charter so I would have the boat to myself, only Landon and me since people irritate me.
Landon, who is roughly 35ish, is a muscular, tall man, with long blonde hair that he keeps pulled back in a ponytail. His smooth body is very tanned from the sun, from head to toe. Literally. He only wears loose, baggy swim trunks, leaving not much to the imagination, and one can tell his entire body is suntanned.
A few minutes later, a tall, very handsome man, who seemed to be physically fit, around my age, with trimmed white hair, mustache, and goatee, wearing a long-sleeved dry fit fishing pullover, khaki cargo shorts, and flip flops walked in. Ned had two suitcases and a travel bag, making my camouflage duffle look less than adequate.
He very proudly said, "Hello gentlemen, I am Ned! I am on the 6 a.m. Tuna Express!"
Landon made introductions all around, Ned and I signed our documents after reading the rules and regulations and finally, around 6:30, we headed out to sea. We wouldn't return to the pier until 11ish on Wednesday morning. Naturally, I was interested in what would be in those two suitcases and a travel bag.
I asked Ned, "You been fishing long?"
He replied, "I'm 66 years old, and other than bank fishing around the lakes upstate, I've never fished. But man I love your accent! Are you from Texas?"
I said, "Upstate? How much further up could you get?"
Ned responded, "You ignored my question regarding where you are from, but Portland is in Southeast Maine, my wife and I live in Northern Maine. However, this is on my bucket list, and I am excited to be here."
We had made our way out far enough for Landon to drop anchor and the fishing to start.
Again I was annoyed.
Ole Ned boy knew nothing about fishing and Landon had to do everything for him. I felt like I was in preschool!
For several hours I didn't talk to the preschool teacher or his old pupil unless I had to. I had caught some tuna, striped bass, and bluefish, but not the shark I was hoping for!
Landon asked if we wanted to take a break and maybe eat some food, and I have to admit I did. Landon went down into the cabin and started preparing our food while I popped open a beer and took a long draw.
Ned asked, "So are you from Texas? I know it's down south, I am just assuming Texas. I haven't ever been to Texas, but you sure look like what I'd think a Texas man would look like."
I looked at him and smiled. To me, Ned looked like what I remember the Yankees looked like when I worked in D.C. What that was, I wasn't sure exactly, but I just assumed he was a Northern Liberal.
I said, "I am a Texan. Born and raised. What makes me look like a Texas man?"
He said, "Well for starters, you have tanned arms but the tan stops where the sleeves of your shirt would start. You have on boots with those Wrangler blue jean shorts, and those big muscular legs of yours are white. And your belt buckle is a Lone Star."
I said, "You're a very observant whipper snapper, ain't ya there feller?"
He laughed and said, "Are you mocking me? You haven't spoken like that before. And why did you suddenly put a stronger accent to your words? You're both handsome and funny, Texan!"
I didn't get the chance to answer.
Landon yelled, "Lunch!"
We all went down and ate and not a lot was said.
Finally, Landon started talking and told Ned my history, how Kevin and I had done this trip for the past 10 years, how he had been our guide for the last four of those 10, etc etc etc.
Ned said, "Now I understand. I am the new guy and you are well-seasoned. I am sorry I interfered with your trip. I am sure you were expecting something different and I spoiled that."
He sincerely looked apologetic.
I said, "No. Don't be sorry. Sometimes I'm just an old cranky ass, hell I didn't mean to be a mother fucker, I'm just a dick at times."