It's mid-August in Kodiak which is synonymous with peak salmon season in our life. This year we're navigating things a little bit different because I gave birth to Silas Finley Rose 3 months ago. I am learning that being a mom is challenging in ways that I never knew possible - my emotional and physical self is pushed to it's limit regularly and the logistics of taking on this wild world with a little human is like driving in the fog- sometimes you just have to wing it. It goes without saying that there are many adjustments you have to make once you're a mom, but there are some that I have vowed not to- things like my love and need for the outdoors, gardening, community service, spontaneous travel and finding ways to spend time with Nate (dad) while he's out fishing. I will now be doing these things but with baby in-tow.
Yesterday, Nate called me on the track phone saying that there was a good weather window, they were in a calm bay and there was a tender leaving the cannery dock in 40 minutes and that I should hop on. Oh and also, they needed more groceries. I didn't even have time to think about whether taking such a young baby on an adventure like this was going to be a good idea, I just did some mad scrambling and made it happen. And now here we are, Silas and I on this boat, a backpack and a baby carrier, hanging with dad.
Every time I go on the boat, I'm reminded that although I love this fishing family lifestyle, boat life is not for me. I am the land-based part of this operation that provides encouragement and countless other things that make it possible for Nate to be out all summer. I don't fully understand how four guys live on a 42 foot fiberglass seiner all summer with 64 square feet of cabin space so gracefully. I don't understand how they make multiple meals a day with nothing but minimal dishes, a skillet and a mini-fridge. I don't understand how these salmon folk find endless creative ways to problem solve mechanical issues, combat boredom, find new interesting ways to get the salmon in the net and on board. I am puzzled that they don't seem to be bothered by seasickness. I don't understand how salmon cycles and winds dictate where the fish will be and when. And I might never understand the passion and dedication that it takes to love salmon fishing so much that that's how you choose to make a living.
But what I do know is that I will encourage Silas to learn these things from his dad who will undoubtedly teach him well because I feel that they are important in character building. His dad will also teach him through this lifestyle, the importance of hard work, the importance of salmon to our family and livelihood and what it means to be a good steward of the resource that gives us so much.
I have the sense Astrid has been amazing her entire life. I met her while she was in high school and a natural leader in among students and in the community. I think many of the teachers, myself included, anticipated she would go into some type of political/social career field. She had such energy and incredible problem solving skills. I remember thinking she could change the world. And look, she has! When I watch her posts on FB and read her blog I realize she is changing the world in her love of family, her new son and her partner and mate, Nathan. She still invests in her community and still provides social energy in the example she lives for the other young AK wild women who grow and thrive in Kodiak, Alaska, and around the world. In Fact, Kodiak has provided a rich nurturing environment for many of the young Alaskans who grew into young adults on the island. Rock on Astrid! I can only imagine the adventures that a wait you and your family!