Old Things R New

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I grew up in a fishing family and I can’t remember when I didn’t have a fishing pole in my hand. Living in Florida, we were salt water fishermen. We often spent all night fishing from river piers. I was so small I could stick my upper body between the rails to drop my line. Now, I can’t imagine how my parents didn’t have heart failure.

My favorite fishing spot was Mather’s Bridge in Eau Gallie, Florida. Years later, we graduated to boat fishing and this spot remained a favorite. One of our boats was an old aluminum cabin cruiser. I loved lying in the cabin, listening to the large fish grunting under the boat.

If Florida history is of interest to you, here is a link to an excellent write up.

When the weather and winds were right we also surf fished. My parents only used Penn reels, their favorite was a Penn #9. I’m not sure they make that model any longer. I didn’t have my own reel and rod but my parents had a smallish one they let me use. I wasn’t the most coordinated child and I frequently ended up with a snarled mess after casting. Sometimes I could unsnarl the mess myself but other times I had to ask for help. For some reason adults found that to be annoying.

I remember one day my Aunt Della and Uncle Connie from North Carolina were fishing with us on the beach and I had my usual snarl. No one wanted to help. ( The whole you made the mess, you fix it thinking.) My precious Aunt Della sat on a blanket and patiently removed every knot. I loved her and miss her to this day.

I read a poem Thursday morning from Streams in the Desert, that made me think of her.

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2020 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

Tags: Fishing, Mather's Bridge, Penn reels, Poem