Fresh Alaskan King Salmon!
Only $100 per pound!
Last week my daughter and I went fishing together in Alaska. We had been planning this trip for quite some time, with the hope of nabbing massive quantities of Halibut and Salmon.
Whenever I was in a grocery store, I’d peruse the current prices of “fresh” King Salmon and Halibut. King Salmon averaged around $15 per pound, and Halibut was around $25 per pound.
Estimating the cost of our fishing excursion - airfare to Sitka, fishing charter, lodging, dining out, and other expenses - I calculated the number of pounds of fish I needed to bring home to meet or beat the store price. The amount was optimistic but feasible, so I deemed the trip to be economically justified. “Honey, we’ll be saving money in the long run,” was the pitch to my wife.
We caught our limit of King Salmon, as well as a couple of Cohos and a respectable Lingcod. However, Halibut fishing was closed during the time we were in Sitka, so that blew my calculations for breaking even out of the water.
The final cost of the fish I brought home… $100 per pound.
Was I discouraged? No, not really. Did I regret embarking on what was apparently a fool’s errand in the pursuit of saving a few bucks on fish at the grocery store? Not at all! Why? Because this trip was never really about the fish.
This trip was about much more. It was about a dad and daughter, sharing a new adventure, creating new memories, reminiscing, sharing stories, kidding each other, and laughing.
Yeah, it was tempting to focus on the numbers and wonder if it was worth it. But, looking at the bigger picture, I realize the real value of our adventure was not measured by the weight of the fish. The true value lies in the time spent with my daughter, strengthening our relationship, sharing experiences, and creating cherished memories.
As we picked up our boxes of fish from the baggage carousel in Seattle and lugged the large white boxes through the airport, like trophies, I couldn’t help but smile. The fish was a nice bonus, but not the real treasure.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Matthew 6:19-21
Children’s Book #4 Update
I’m just about finished with the manuscript for my fourth Children’s Book. I’m not yet ready to share any details, other than to say it’s not a Dolph and Gwen adventure story. It’s still a Coast Guard rescue story, but from a different perspective and with a deeply impactful message. Stand by for more.
Thank you for reading!
Darcy