The Jacket

The Jacket

The first day in Alaska, I signed up to salmon fish.  Mrs. C had no interest in fishing and took a tour of the town, Wrangell.  The day started out a little chilly, maybe 45 degrees and I thought it might get colder on the water, so I wore layered clothes and took my favorite rain jacket.

Mrs. C left me with only two commands. 

“Don’t forget your jacket, and when you get back, go in town and get some cash for the casino.”

As we left the dock, the weather warmed up, plus the boat had a warm cabin.  There was some nice friendly banter with the captain and the other passengers on the way to the fishing grounds, and also some piping hot coffee.  By the time lines were dropped and we started trolling for salmon, it was getting too warm for my rain jacket.  As I took it off, I received a text from Mrs. C.

“Don’t forget your jacket!”

I showed it to the captain and the others,

“Check this out, when I left for the boat my wife told me to not forget my jacket, and now one hour later, just as I take it off, she sends me this text.  Crap, if I forget this jacket, my ass will be grass!”

Everyone had a good laugh and agreed that their wives could be just as ridiculous.

We fished for four hours and caught nothing.  It was a nice trip even without fish.  We saw eagles and seals, the scenery was fantastic, and a humpback whale coasted no more than 30 feet from our boat before it lifted its tail and dove into the deep.

We eventually returned to the dock fishless, and yes someone had to say, “That’s why they call it fishing, not catching” and we all had to laugh even though we have all heard that tired old joke about ninety million times. 

I thanked the captain for a good day, handed him a small tip and headed to town for an ATM machine as per instructions.  I was about 200 yards from the boat which was pulling away from the dock when I realized…you’ve got it…I forgot my jacket.

CRAP!!! I loved that jacket and our ship was leaving for the next port in three hours.  At least I did go into town and get cash.

Soon after, Mrs. C called from town to see how I did.  I reported we caught no fish and then confessed that I left my jacket.  At first she thought I was just pulling her leg, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that yes, I am that lame.  She didn’t need to lecture me, I was pissed enough at myself.  I loved that jacket and would probably need it during this trip.

Two hours later Mrs. C came into our cabin.  “Who’s a good wife?” she said as the threw a plastic bag at me.  Inside the bag was my jacket.

My wife had seen the captain when I left the dock.  She described him to a local in this tiny town who knew who he was, got his telephone number and she called him.  He found the jacket in his boat and drove it back to leave it with the cruise ships lost and found.

So the good news was my wife got my jacket back.  The bad news is I will hear about this for a long time…it is definitely going to cost me more than a jacket.