salmon

Somehow around september midway
We always end up in issaquah
And someone says "hey! Maybe the fish are coming in!?"
We make way to the river
And peer over the edge of the bridge
And there they are
It takes a second for your eyes to relax so you can see them in the glittering,clear water
I think its my favorite fall tradition
I think Ode thinks, that since everytime we go
And look in the river there..the salmon are there..so they must always be there..
For me
Its like witnessing a miracle
Every single time
I could stand there for hours
Hanging over the rails
Watching it unfold
Ode lasted about ten minutes..then patted me on the leg and said.."thats real cool mom..but im hot, can we go see the SHARKS now?"
I explained there weren't any sharks..this was a real river, and not the aquarium..
He looked sort of ripped off
Ha
I hope someday he'll understand how amazing it really is
I told him about the life cycle of the salmon, how they go way out in the ocean..and then find their way all the way back
We watched them try to go up the falls over and over
And he said "man thats tough work"

I noted to him how they keep trying and trying even though they fall back down
Told him about persistence, and instincts
I told him some of them die after getting to the end
He said "well thats just a really sad sad story"
They dont even get to play with their kids
I continued to try to explain
How it was the cycle of life
Blah blah blah
And he finally seemed satisfied w the explanation or maybe he just got tired of me blathering on about it
Anyways

Miracle