Fishing Lessons
Max and Hannah fished all weekend, catching several sunfish and Max has had his first "one that got away..." story involving a very large Bass and an eye witness (more than most folks have...)
B, our friend's husband, was incredibly generous with his time and skill in showing Max fishing tips and adding a new dimension to both kids' love of tossing hooks into lakes.
I tried to repay a tiny bit by setting up a webpage for Myrna with a link to her book, Stahman's Shawls & Scarves, and contact information.
Gerry's dad, Sydney, who died when Max was 2, was a great fisherman. He used to go out on Long Island Sound and fish all day, layered with years of burn/tan/burn. I can see Max moving in the same direction, and he never seemed more like Sydney than he did this weekend.
Hannah also loves fishing, but was less involved than she has been in the past. She's disconnecting herself from certain childhood passions, whether as a function of being a pre-teen or for a deeper reason, I'm not sure. I think it has a lot to do with the amount of homework she's handling, and her passion for the Breakthrough program.
She's beginning to look at her physical self more critically than she has before - which is something every woman goes through and few are able to conquer. I want to ease her through this in a better way than I was offered.
As much emphasis as there is on body image, I also feel there's been no better time to be an 'unusually' or 'unconventionally' beautiful girl. I feel like I paid for decades for my awkward early-teen transition, but I know it doesn't have to be that way.
Having parents who see her beauty, and tell her, is a good start. She's also building some good friendships (with both girls and boys) and has a clear sense of her importance in our family. Much beyond that I feel like we're just improvising as things come up, which may be the best way to handle the upcoming years.
But I'm hoping she wants to fish again soon.
Max loves fishing so much that it's time for Gerry and/or I to get licenses so we can take the kids more often. We just sat and watched this weekend, but when kids loves something in such a strong way, it's only right to encourage them.
I received an email that a Kiva loan I'd made was paid off this morning, which also made me think of fishing;
Here's the text from Kiva's website about my recent loan:
Foot Thanks
Thanks to everyone with your excellent advice about the stretching and ice and shoes. I've been doing the excercises, icing when I can (the coke bottle thing is a great tip!) and am now wearing my Keens around the house as well as outside. If you know me, or have taken a class with me, you'll know how awkward it feels to me to have my shoes on all the time (I enjoy being barefoot...)
This seemed to have cropped up VERY quickly, while I was at TNNA, and after a full day of wearing my birks. So, as wonderful as they may be for many folks, I think in this case it was a perfect storm of hard concrete floors, lots of walking, hard concrete sidewalks back to my hotel and the wrong shoes for my foot.
I just ordered another pair of Keens from Eddie Bauer, where they're on sale, and I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow about either getting inserts or seeing a podiatrist.
B, our friend's husband, was incredibly generous with his time and skill in showing Max fishing tips and adding a new dimension to both kids' love of tossing hooks into lakes.I tried to repay a tiny bit by setting up a webpage for Myrna with a link to her book, Stahman's Shawls & Scarves, and contact information.
Gerry's dad, Sydney, who died when Max was 2, was a great fisherman. He used to go out on Long Island Sound and fish all day, layered with years of burn/tan/burn. I can see Max moving in the same direction, and he never seemed more like Sydney than he did this weekend.
Hannah also loves fishing, but was less involved than she has been in the past. She's disconnecting herself from certain childhood passions, whether as a function of being a pre-teen or for a deeper reason, I'm not sure. I think it has a lot to do with the amount of homework she's handling, and her passion for the Breakthrough program.
She's beginning to look at her physical self more critically than she has before - which is something every woman goes through and few are able to conquer. I want to ease her through this in a better way than I was offered.
As much emphasis as there is on body image, I also feel there's been no better time to be an 'unusually' or 'unconventionally' beautiful girl. I feel like I paid for decades for my awkward early-teen transition, but I know it doesn't have to be that way.
Having parents who see her beauty, and tell her, is a good start. She's also building some good friendships (with both girls and boys) and has a clear sense of her importance in our family. Much beyond that I feel like we're just improvising as things come up, which may be the best way to handle the upcoming years.
But I'm hoping she wants to fish again soon.
Max loves fishing so much that it's time for Gerry and/or I to get licenses so we can take the kids more often. We just sat and watched this weekend, but when kids loves something in such a strong way, it's only right to encourage them.
I received an email that a Kiva loan I'd made was paid off this morning, which also made me think of fishing;
Give me a fish and I'll eat for a day, teach me to fish and I'll eat for a lifetime.I love working through Kiva because I think of it as encouraging folks to "fish" through micro-loans (for all kinds of businesses, not just fishing...) and, in turn, that helps the overall local economy. Which helps the borrower's country's economy; etc. etc. One fish at a time.
Here's the text from Kiva's website about my recent loan:
I can't think of a better use for $25 (which I will get back).I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Tita Charles in Dominican Republic. They still need another $325.00 to complete their loan request of $750.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on this link to make a loan to Tita Charles too.
It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.
Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.
Foot Thanks
Thanks to everyone with your excellent advice about the stretching and ice and shoes. I've been doing the excercises, icing when I can (the coke bottle thing is a great tip!) and am now wearing my Keens around the house as well as outside. If you know me, or have taken a class with me, you'll know how awkward it feels to me to have my shoes on all the time (I enjoy being barefoot...)
This seemed to have cropped up VERY quickly, while I was at TNNA, and after a full day of wearing my birks. So, as wonderful as they may be for many folks, I think in this case it was a perfect storm of hard concrete floors, lots of walking, hard concrete sidewalks back to my hotel and the wrong shoes for my foot.I just ordered another pair of Keens from Eddie Bauer, where they're on sale, and I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow about either getting inserts or seeing a podiatrist.
Feed me, baby!
12 Comments:
I spent about two weeks each summer at our cabin on Cass Lake in MN fishing with my grandpa. Due to a stroke when I was a month old, he only had the use of one hand and was bound to his wheel chair, but he always managed to catch the most fish as well as the smallest one. This was all done while listening to Rush Limbaugh on our pontoon anchored in the reeds.
I am wearing one of my 5 pairs of Keens. They are some of the most comfortable and resilient shoes I own. Privos are right up there though.
I started to leave a comment yesterday, but was interrupted on my end.
I'm sure you got LOTS of advice (grin), but wanted to pass along, as a physician and a several time sufferer with plantar fascitis, that the last time I had it (as a result of all day at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in good but not great shoes, two years ago), it lasted over a year -- perpetuated by my (like yours) on my feet lifestyle. I happened to get some Earth Shoes (yes, those) on sale because they immediately felt comfortable and my feet less painful upon putting them on. I am convinced that wearing those regularly is what made my plantar fascitis resolve, after so long and in the face of nothing else different. If you get a chance to try them on, do! Though all feet are different & of course your mileage may vary (and as far as the Birkies, remember that all shoes compact and wear out, especially those cork soles, so older Birkies may be not-good despite the fact that they look fine -- I ran into that with my favorite Eccos). Just wanted to pass on my experience after a very frustrating long time of dealing with daily pain.
Glad to hear you've had a good experience with Kiva; I made my first loan a few months ago.
For whatever its worth, I have a near 6' tall "unconventional beauty" of my own who officially became an adult this year. Our approach has been similar to what you're describing as your plan of attack and I have to say she is stronger and more confident and happy than any of her petite size 6friends. Parental love, reinforecement and following her lead paid off big time!
Annie
I love your friend Myrna's book - it deserves promotion and would be loved by any knitter of shawls.
What a wonderful time you knitters must have together !
Paula
SO glad that you were able to get away and have some family time.
Let me know how the Keens work for you. I've hated wearing shoes since I broke my foot and basically live in sneakers and flip flops.
Also, I LOVE Myrna's book. I've knit, so far a scarf and a shawl and have requests from Mom for more. Also made a pair of socks based on one of her patterns. like I said, LOVE IT!!!
Hugs,
Karen
I meant to comment on your last post and got distracted (story of my life), but I thought I'd share my plantar fascitis experiences too...
Definitely do the easy stretching (and remember that the body needs time to relax into the stretch... make sure you hold it for 10 seconds).
I also lucked out and found a great rolling foot massager... a wooden textured thing that I could roll my aching arch on stretching and massaging at the same time. I don't know where you might get such a thing, but if you can find one they work wonderfully.
And a note of commiseration... I too can't wear Birkenstocks because they aggravate this. I *loved* my Birks... oh well. I live in my Danskos now. They work for my feet, plus they've helped with lower back and knee pain.
And unconnected to foot pain... I've wanted for a while now to tell you how much the class I took with you months ago (at On the Lamb in Staunton VA) is still helping me in my knitting.
I've been working on lace scarves... I finished one in a worsted weight and I'm in process on a laceweight one... and my ability to look at a chart is so aided by the way you taught us to read them. I liked charts before... now I love them. I understand the language. And even when they're complex I can see a simpler way of looking at them.
So, I thank you. Very much.
Myrna = Genius - on my second of her shawls now, and keep holding it up, wondering just how I managed to make that cast on strip of seed stitch blend right into the body of the shawl. Answer: Myrna's crystal clear instructions.
Keep up the fishing tradition - from Paula, who's grandma Alva was the fishing queen of Martin Lake
Re the pf issue: I had hip replacement surgery last fall, and as predicted now that I am straightened out, i am having loads of leg issues. I remember to stretch while I am sitting and when I get up, and I shift from my old footbed Keens to my new footbed Keens to my Birkis to keep my feet guessing. I also learned to wash the stinky Keens in Dawn dish liquid and let them airdry to keep them nose-friendly.
I've had bad plantar fascitis twice. Both times, massages, different shoes and even taping my arches didn't help. The podiatrist gave me a shot of cortisone into the fascia and both times it was a miraculous recovery. It's an awful shot, but stopping the cycle of inflammation was the trick. Since the last time, it hasn't come back and it's been about 10 years.
I also wear Keens and I love them. I can walk all day with them on (Newport sandals) and my feet never ache. My pregnant sister-in-law just got a pair because her feet were hurting and she loves them too.
Good luck - I know what a misery it is and I hope you feel better soon.
My mother told me constantly how beautiful I was growing up, but I always felt like a hideous beast. Why? Because I didn't look like the girls in the magazines.
I've had a serious bout of plantar fascitis for the last 2+ years. I finally went to the podiatrist after finding out I had a heel spur. He explained that it's not the bony spur, but tight calf muscles that pull on the achilles that pulls on the fascia... And I started doing the kind of calf stretches that runners do - putting your arms against a wall and putting one leg out behind you (is this making ANY sense?) - and oh, how I could feel that stretching in my affected foot's calf. It's made more difference than any of the foot exercises, taping, orthotics, etc.
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