The Old Drake
Posted on November 30, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
The old man sat in the front of the boat, completely still save for the rhythmic movement of his right thumb working up and down the length of a shotgun shell. “I love the way shells feel,” he said. “The smooth brass, the ridges.” He turned around. “Remember how I could twirl them around in […]
A Pleasant Surprise
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
(Editor’s Note: Niko Corley’s November, 2015 column, reprinted here, received a Personal Essay Award at the North American Mature Publishers Association Conference in September, in Denver, CO.) “Roostertails,” he mumbled, dejected, peering into the tackle box. “Of all the lures. Roostertails.” He’d set the tackle box with the spoons, buck-tail jigs and other assorted saltwater lures […]
Septembers Gone
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
Had she not gone to be with the Lord three years ago, she’d have turned 98 last month. In some ways, the years since my Granny’s death seem long, the void created by her passing more and more apparent each year. But in other ways, the years since, filled with the joy of growing children […]
Resolve
Posted on September 1, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
The shrimp landed softly near the edge of the wide, illumined circle formed by the dock lights. It skittered across the surface, legs sending a thousand pulses through the water, unaware that below, a long shadow was slowly rising to investigate. The shrimp stopped momentarily and in that instant, both shadow and shrimp disappeared with […]
Feather & Thread
Posted on July 31, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
I tied my first fly at 10 years old. Covered in red chenille from eye to point, the hook shank disappeared underneath green marabou that peeked out from under a wad of gray rabbit fur. Coiled loosely around this was an entire package of top grade peacock hackle, all materials courtesy of my father’s fly-tying […]
Grandpa’s Boat
Posted on July 1, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
She started life as a dual-console runabout. He bought her new in ‘87, trading in a small Boston Whaler fishing skiff for a larger Whaler fish-and-ski. Reagan was in the White House, and retirement was fresh on my grandfather’s mind. He planned to enjoy the new boat and the golden years ahead with his wife, […]
Dry Ground, Sharks & Blood in the Water
Posted on June 1, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
The flat extended endlessly in all directions save the north, where the tree line was faintly visible through the south Florida haze. The wind was mostly calm, with an intermittent breeze out of the northwest; perfect to stalk and pitch flies to tailing reds. He idled the skiff out of the channel, the water beneath […]
Cats, Brothers & Bears
Posted on May 2, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
My three-year-old daughter was perplexed. “Why Jack not come inside?” she said, not understanding my insistence that the cat meowing his lungs out on the other side of the door remain there. “He has to live outside now,” I responded flatly, knowing what was coming next. “Whyyy?” she questioned, predictably. “Because he bit your brother […]
Finding The Good Life
Posted on March 29, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
“Thursday night?” I asked. “Thursday night,” the voice on the phone confirmed. “We’re going to fry some quail, sit around and talk about the good life. Hope you can come.” Like any gracious guest, I asked how I might contribute, and was given a fairly simple assignment: show up at 6 with enough salad to […]
Saint Tom and the Turkey
Posted on March 1, 2016 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath
Tom had never been much of a regular in the church pew, especially in the spring. While he attended Christmas Eve and Easter services, the latter – given the time of the year – he regretfully marked off the calendar as just another day he wouldn’t be chasing turkeys. It wasn’t that Tom wasn’t spiritual. […]
