avatarPene Hodge

Summary

The author expresses a dual relationship with the sea, reflecting both a fear rooted in personal experiences and a profound love for its beauty and role in their life, particularly through fishing.

Abstract

The author describes an intricate relationship with water, characterized by an innate fear originating from a near-drowning incident and childhood trauma, yet balanced by an immense appreciation for nature and the sea. Despite the fear that grips them when water reaches their chest, they find solace and joy in fishing, a tradition passed down in their family. The love for fishing is shared with their grandfather, who is an avid fisherman, and the family's commitment to this pastime is evident through the ownership of boats and the joy of spending time at sea. The author marvels at the ocean's mystery and power, recognizing it as a source of contemplation and a connection to the divine. The sea's allure is reflected in the author's desire to explore its depths while remaining grounded in the present.

Opinions

  • The author has an innate fear of water, stemming from a childhood incident and their grandmother's hair-washing methods.
  • Despite this fear, the author has a deep love for water, particularly the sea, due to its natural beauty and the serenity it offers.
  • Fishing is a cherished family activity that the author loves with the same passion as reading, despite their aversion to worms.
  • The author's grandfather, referred to as "My Gee," is portrayed as a master fisherman who has a profound love for the ocean.
  • The beauty of the sea is seen as a connection to the creator, and the author expresses a sense of wonder and respect for its power.
  • The author values the time spent with family on the water and cherishes the memories made, such as the children driving the boat and the excitement of fishing trips.
  • The ocean is personified as a keeper of secrets and a source of endless fascination for the author, who dreams of its mysteries while keeping a practical outlook on life.
  • The author is active on social media and invites readers to join them on various platforms, indicating a desire to share their experiences and perspectives with a wider audience.
  • Pene Hodge, the author, identifies as a multifaceted individual: a mom, a nurse, a writer, and someone committed to knowledge sharing for mutual betterment.

The Sea and Me: The Wonders I See, Hear, And Feel

Water is both an enemy and a friend to me

Image credit: author — the new fishing boat we purchased in May

I have an innate fear of water.

Everyone in my family knows how to swim except me.

When I was young, my cousins visited from Jamaica, we went swimming and I almost drowned. That caused me to never learn to swim. Once the water gets to my chest I begin to hyperventilate.

My grandmother did not help that fear or perhaps she was the author of it. While washing my hair (I had lots and lots of hair back then), she would lock my head between her knees while I screamed blue murder.

Photo by Shifaaz shamoon on Unsplash

Yet, I still love water.

It is part of nature after all, and I love nature in all its forms.

I also love to fish. This is a love that has stood the test of time. I love it today as much as I loved it as a child. And I grew up in a family that fished.

Back in Guyana, we fished by attaching a hook to a bamboo rod with a piece of rubber from an old pair of flip-flops or a cork from a bottle.

I loved it so much that I did it each time I got a chance. Besides keeping my head in a book, I love fishing with the same fervor.

My grandmother would chide me about always standing at the trench-mouth catching fish. The fact that I hate worms proved to be a challenge, but I found ways around that.

My Gee is a master fisherman.

He looooves to fish. So much so that he has always owned a boat. We have fished in New York, Massachusetts, and Houston, to name a few.

Last year he was out fishing with a buddy, he fell asleep, and asked the buddy to drive for a bit, the friend ran the boat aground and it sank. Everything was lost.

Then in May, we were passing by a marina and one caught our eye, so guess what, today there is another boat on the dock. I have not been out to sea with the new boat as it is New York and I have been in Texas since May. I stayed behind to hang out and get the kids ready for school. It was my choice and I have been having a blast with my children since the month of May.

Before the boat sank in 2021, the kids got a chance to drive it, and they were excited. We fished and enjoyed being out on the water.

I love the beauty of water; it is noisy yet serene, and a wonderful place to contemplate life. It calls to you with the age-old sirens' song.

My Gee hears that song too much I tell him because he loves the ocean way more than I do.

Photo by Kees Streefkerk on Unsplash

The ocean will forever remain a mystery and a keeper of secrets.

It brings me closer to the magnificence of the creator. I marvel at its beauty and respect its power.

I love being on it, seeing it, and hearing its waves crash on the shore.

I thank God for it as I dream of what lies beneath while keeping my head firmly fixed on the sky above.

Journey with me on social media, I seek to grow my presence on Pinterest | NewsBreak| Twitter | Instagram.

Pene Hodge is a mom, a nurse, a writer. She writes because she must. She loves people and is committed to sharing and gleaning knowledge for the betterment of all.

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