ON THE BACK BURNER

We did something different on this " sale day". We went to see the spawning salmon . Absolutely fascinating. They were fighting their way upstream in Chimacum Creek. Watching them fight the current,concentrating our sight on just a few, gave me more questions than answers. How do the the now eggs, when adults ,know to go back to where they were spawned. Why do they have to die after spawning. Why does their body begin to break down as soon as they leave salt water. Why do their faces change when their bodies start breaking down. Is it painful. Do they know that they are going to die. There are dead salmon in the shallow ,running creek. It smells slightly fishy, not terribly so. We could see what we thought were fish eggs,but we were not sure. The salmon were thrashing about, some of the thrashing was loud, ,trying to jump,gliding backwards, then as if to gather their strength, charge upstream again. Some looked like they just wanted a quiet space and to be left alone. Others were in pairs,almost territorial, pushing another salmon out of the way. This creek was their last day alive. Their only predator  at this point would be bears and we don't have bears in Port Townsend. Their bodies will decay and become nutrients for other forms of life. It's sad to watch, but at the same time,it is almost a spiritual event., held in a beautiful ,shady wooded preserve. I respect their last hours. Life,birth,death. I guess, basically, it's the same for all of us.

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Latest comments

01.12 | 14:15

Safe travels. See you soon. sally

04.07 | 12:10

I read the last page first too. It’s a family curse.

22.05 | 12:38

so glad youre here mom!

29.08 | 17:45

Don't quite know how this got to me but it was on the top line of my computer (not in email) But I really enjoyed it. I truly admire you.