From Vegan to Fisherman
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My wife supports me in all my endeavors not matter how far-fetched they may seem. Although, I know she sometimes does not understand my mindset when it comes to hunting and fishing. In the past she has always wondered why I suddenly would drop everything to go disappear into the mountains or to the lake in pursuit of fish or game. IÂ witnessed her mind change a few days ago.
Let me back track a couple of years. When my wife and I first met, I was in college in New Orleans and did not involve myself in hunting and fishing as much as I would have preferred. She was a full-blown vegetarian, wanting nothing to do with anything meat related. She would not even eat out of a pan that had meat prepared in it previously. This was funny for me coming from rural Southeast Oklahoma where not eating meat is suspiciously questioned. It was a true scenario of opposites attracting. I say this jokingly and she will never admit it but it took me two diligent years to get her to try meat. This meat was in the form of seafood, shrimp to be exact. Now she cannot get enough of seafood. So much so that she persuaded me to get her a fishing license so she could join me while surf fishing.
Back to present times, a few days ago I am jogging after work when I receive an excited phone call from my wife. She has been at the beach relaxing and wants to show me something she found. I question a little deeper to learn that she found a Pismo clam. I arrive back home to find a large (5 inch) Pismo clam wrapped in a wet towel in our refrigerator. She unwraps the clam and presents it to me as though she is showing off a bar of gold. She is smiling with pride from ear to ear. She has brought home a catch. I was shocked by what the past-vegetarian suggested next. She says,” Lets cook it and eat it.” After some research, we open, clean, batter, and fry the clam for a tasty treat.
As I enjoyed the clam I was amazed that my wife pulled this from the ocean. I was not surprised that she had the ability to catch it. I was generally surprised that she so proudly brought it home as a catch and that we were now eating it. A couple of years ago this whole process never would have happened. It makes me further believe that no matter how disconnected we get from our food source, we can turn full circle and return to our primal nature of hunting and gathering. Sometimes it may be the thrill of the chase or merely the honor in providing dinner that truly keeps you in search of new fish and game. I can tell you this, every day since she harvested her first clam, she has been itching to get back in the water to find more. The once vegetarian has now evolved into a fisherman.
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The understanding of the bounty given to us by earth is spectacular. Harvesting clean, wild food is one of the most pure things left on this planet. I enjoyed reading this post and I am thrilled to hear of the excitement that your wife and you are experiencing during this journey.