Survival of the fishest

by Rochelle Schlemmer

Well, here it is, the first Monday post-vacation. I find myself thinking what so many people think after a vacation...that I need another one to recover from the first one. My muscles may be sore but my skin is brown, we made wonderful memories, and my boys have lots of new material for their stories.

And my dad did finally catch a fish – three to be exact. After a trip to the bait and lure boys in LaGrange, he returned armed with all kinds of lures and whatnot as well as information on just how and where to use them.

Turns out it did just come down to improper tools for the job because as soon as he began using his new lures, he found a bass on his hook just off the end of the dock.

It became a great matter of contention on whether to let the fish go or not...with everyone having their reasons. We had some time to think about it as he had purchased one of those underwater fish cages and the poor creature had some time to wonder what fate had in store for him.

Well, he had a rough ride ahead of him, though purely accidental.

Bolstered by my father’s catch, I suggested to him that we should go out on the pontoon and fish. He agreed and as I got some things ready (food and drink must always come along), my eldest child saw what was going on and quickly asked if he could come along. I tried to steer him away by informing him that if he stayed behind, he would be able to go swimming with his brother, grandma, and aunt.

Nope, he wanted to fish....or at least go out on the boat. So, after making sure my child knew that impatience was not welcome on this trip and he eagerly agreed, the three of us set out....with the fish cage and its watery prisoner still attached to the side of the boat.

Once we got out onto the water, we realized that in our hurry we had forgotten our fishing licenses. I told my dad we have to turn back and get them and he, knowing that I am a stickler on these things, quickly turned the boat around.

As we flew across the water, something in the periphery caught my attention. The fish cage was bouncing on top of the water as we sped along. I yelled for my dad to stop....that this fish was suffocating.

We stopped and begin putting along so that the cage sank back down into the water. I informed my dad that a decision must be made....and now. Are we keeping the fish or letting it go?

At this point in time, I wasn’t even sure if the fish was still alive. As we pulled up to the dock, I jumped into the water to meet my mother, who handed us our licenses as my dad was trying to determine if the fish had survived the ordeal.

He reached into the cage and picked the fish up by the gills and instructed me to put my hand in and take the fish as I was already in the water fetching the licenses. I resist, as I am comfortable in the fact that I am not comfortable handling a fish. He gives me the old, "Oh, come on, just take it. It’s not going to hurt you."

Well, I never really thought it would hurt me, just gross me out...and it did.

But, the mystery of if the creature was to live or die came to a quick conclusion as soon as I stuck my hand in (seriously, I am grossed out just thinking about it, I can still feel it) and the fish closed his mouth and the gills compressed on my fingers. I immediately dropped the freaked-out fish and he slowly gained momentum as he was able to push water through his gills.

I think we were all relieved that the crisis was over...and that everyone came out alive.

I believe the decision was made at that point that all subsequent catches would only be kept long enough to show the boys before they were sent back on their way...to swim another day.

The time has come...

by Rochelle Schlemmer

My stomach has been in knots and I have been on edge without knowing why for awhile now.... but, I believe I came across a clue as to the reason for my suffering. I just got done going online to make sure I had all my information correct for our first school registration...that’s right, my dear, eldest child is heading to kindergarten...and just actually writing that sent the feeling over me that I was either going to vomit or cry – maybe both, we’ll see.

I had been backtracking, trying to figure out if I had eaten something bad or was I getting the stomach flu or what. I have just been feeling on edge and tense and not able pinpoint the cause.

Well, I believe I have it figured out and I know it is so cliche but...I just can’t believe my little boy is old enough for kindergarten.

My husband was going through some papers when he came across some photos taken on my son’s third birthday. I remember thinking how grown up he seemed to me then. I look at it now and see that he was just a baby.

Well, that baby is growing up and had a week full of school preparations....starting with shots.

I must say I felt this was a job for my husband. He deals with these things much better than me and I knew our son would deal better with his father.

So, I sent my two boys off to the Health Department while I stayed home with our youngest son who insisted he didn’t want shots...well, at least, not until next year.

When they arrived home, my son bounded in through the door, beaming with pride and a sucker in hand.

He lifted up his sleeves to display his badges of courage....the four different bandages on his arms. He went on to explain how the first shot hurt but then he and daddy talked and he decided that he was a big boy and sat still for his shots.

One step down, a few more to go....

So, yesterday, I took my turn with parental school preparation duty and took my son to school to register. He was so very excited and wore his St. Joe Preschool shirt, "for the last time."

I must say, to my surprise, registration was quick and painless, though I did make a rookie mistake and forgot my checkbook.

So, I will be popping off there today once more to pay my dues.

However, we did get one surprise while we were there. I sat down and watched as the woman assisting me put a question mark down for my son’s teacher.... leaving me to question what was going on.

Turns out, last minute, my son’s kindergarten teacher had taken a position as a fourth grade teacher...so, at this point in time, my son has no teacher.

Luckily, he is taking the news much better than I am.

When we returned home, my husband asked our son who his teacher was going to be.

"It’s a mystery!" my son replied.

His father, being quick on his feet, stated, "Oh, so it is like a surprise?"

"Yes! That is exactly what I was thinking!" my little blonde-haired boy exclaimed.

Next stop, haircuts. Both boys have haircuts scheduled for tomorrow so I can send nice, clean-cut boys out to school.

After that, the last step is the fun one....school supplies.

There is nothing like picking out your school supplies along with new shoes and clothes.

So, one week from today I will be sitting here, probably with a stereotypical mom first-day-of-kindergarten-tear-stained face, as my husband takes on the awesome duty of dropping our oldest child off at his very first day of "real" school.