On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
My family ended up in Florida on the advice of my dad’s doctor. I know, you folks who are digging out of the snow today are wishing your doctor would advise the same. Sorry, but this was 1954 and doctors at time recommended salt air for people with bad lungs. Now they give you an inhaler.
Back in January when we were in North Carolina, my husband came down with a sinus infection that left him with a harsh and lingering cough. After we arrived in Florida for the winter, I decided to try the old-fashioned remedy that worked so well on my dad, Fishing Therapy. When we moved to Florida in the early 1950s, my dad found work in Orlando. It was not close enough to the coast to get benefit from the salt air so for almost every weekend in my memory, we loaded up the car on Friday night or early Saturday and drove to the east coast to fish. It seemed to help my dad, so why not try it on my husband?
We decide our first therapy session should be someplace that would not require a lot of walking so we settled on a park at the local marina. We didn’t catch a single fish but it was a beautiful day and the salt air was wonderful.
There were a number of sailboats anchored offshore and beyond the bridge the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building can be seen. There’s something about the joining of high-tech space flight and nature that fills me with wonder and contentment.
I saw these birds in the boat ramp parking lot as I was on my way to the facilities. Something about them flocking together in the parking spaces tickled my sense of humor.
We enjoyed our day and I think it helped with his breathing, so we embarked on a second therapy session, this one at a park closer to home. The wind was brisk and cool, which I love. As a child, both my husband and I had spent many hours fishing and playing at this spot when it was a wide open space with no facilities. I must say I do appreciate the comfort of a restroom.
I caught a tiny fish and a blow fish. My husband caught three horseshoe crabs.
I had my heart set on having fresh fish for our supper and this day’s catch wouldn’t feed Rebekah’s cat, so after cleaning up, I went to our local fish market, Wild Ocean. They were out of the type of fish I wanted, so I changed my plans and bought two pounds of Cape Canaveral large white shrimp. Oh my, they were good!
The entire front wall of the store is covered in a this mural. If you should be traveling on US Highway 1 be sure to stop in Titusville and check out the murals downtown. You might want some fresh seafood too. Wild Ocean will cook it for you. Take a look at their menu.
Old Things R New 
I love your fishing tale. I miss fishing in the winter, and can’t wait until it is warm enough to enjoy it on the Delaware Bay once again. Our goal is to catch a striper large enough to keep…and maybe eat…if we can figure out how to clean it.
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Cleaning it will be an adventure. : )
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I’d love a chance to go fishing before it gets too hot.
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Wonderful story. So well done. I enjoyed it very much.
Love, DiVoran
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Gone fishing! Something I think many of us need to do these days.
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I’d love to do the fishing therapy at the ocean without the fishing part. The calm breezes, fresh salt air, and peaceful afternoon would refresh me. I’ve often done this type of nature meditation in the pine trees and mountains and it always works.
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Nature has a way of restoring the soul. Thanks for stopping by.
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