The Fishy Beggar

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Well, this morning I ventured away from the safety of the Thought Dock and went into town. After taking care of some routine banking business, I grabbed a burger combination from an unspecified business, and went to the dock for a vehicle picnic (That's where you park and eat your food in your truck).

The dock, is the public dock on the river in Old Town of this Central Oregon Coast community, and is far different than the Thought Dock that I'm used to. Different, but not in a bad way. There, away from the solitude of the Thought Dock, I find more real world things to watch and think about.

Like today, I saw a man clad in fishing garb, complete from the black boots with red soles and the yellow heavy weather rain suit. Just like they wear on Deadliest Catch! He was carrying a fishing pole and his skin was leathery. Actually, he belonged in a museum.

I'd seen him before in the area, but never really gave him much Thought. Not today. Today, I realized something more about him. Today was a beautifully clear and calm day, and no need to wear that heavy rain coat. And there were no commercial fishing boats docked, or puddles in the streets, so there was no need for the boots. And even if he were going fishing on a commercial boat, he would have no use for a fishing pole designed to catch trout. And, I've never even seen anyone fish the river from the dock outside of Salmon season (which it is not yet). And then he disappeared among the maze of tourists eating their ice cream cones while strolling Old Town.

Just about the time I finished my last sweet potato french fry (really yummy), he approached my window and asked me for a few bucks. I didn't even answer him. I guess he saw my eyes roll back just a bit and left on his own. Either that, or he was scared of the ketchup dripping from my chin.

Now, I had never seen a Fishing Beggar, and actually I think his pole never gets used. But he had a great costume that I'm sure does him well. If he had any motivation he could simply pose among the tourist for a photo and really take in the dough.

Just thinking about the dock from the Thought Dock.
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