Lobster Tales, Life Lessons, and Laughter

Just so’s you know… Some folks call me Dennis, some of my favorite folks call me Pap, and the list of other labels and expletives that have been used to get my attention or describe me to others is probably endless. The chronicles captured on these pages began as entries in a boating log book that were recorded so I could learn about lobster fishing. I’d never fished for lobster before and figured I’d give it a go, not as a living, just as something fun to do with my family & friends. To get started, I searched for a “How-To” book on lobster fishing and couldn’t find one. Are you shipping me? How could there not be a book on how to do this? I could find & watch some videos of other people doing it, but for the life of me I couldn’t find a book, nor could my co-captain, Rick Apt, a learned and well-versed navigator of all places in the www.universe. The contents of this book began with my jotting down basic data about our lobstering endeavors, was gradually expanded to include some “lessons learned” while doing so, and ultimately led to the addition of some anecdotal entries about the trips. As my first summer came to a close and I was reading the log book entries I began laughing out loud and decided to try to capture the fun times as a series of short stories (anecdotes) that all connect with each other through me, and then give them to those who shared the fun with me on the water. I’m not a writer. I’ve never written a book, nor have I studied how to do so. I am, however, a story teller and an avid observer of life and people, so I decided to stick with the horse I rode in on and apply these skills to writing this book. I’ve tried to mimic the style I use when telling a story around a campfire, focusing on relating the story so the listeners are brought into the adventure and experience the events with me on some level. So, pull up a log, I’ve got a few stories to share with you.

Before we get started, I need to bring you “around the fire” with me so you can hear me speaking. I don’t have any experience doing this on paper, but I’m going to give it a shot. Janet Harris is a wonderful woman who works with me at UNH and the amazing editor of this book. Thank you Janet, you are the punctuation guru and I am not worthy. (I’m bowing as I type this) However; because I might have missed a punctuation error or two that she found and I didn’t correct, I’m going to tell you the same thing I told her (listen up, this is where I attempt to bring you round the fire, it’s important) When you come upon a punctuation mark in this book that is either a comma, semi-colon; period. question mark? exclamation point! or a colon: pause. Seriously, just pause. If you do this, you will be reading in the rhythm that it was spoken aloud or in my head as I wrote it. No matter what the punctuation, pause. Everything else will fall into place. Simple right? Have fun.

Disclaimer: I ventured out aboard Aislyn 43 times during the first summer I lobstered. Most times I was accompanied by friends or family, all of whom seemed normal when I first met them. Throughout my life as an educator and active participant in many adventures, I’ve come to understand that there are basically three types of people in this world: Those who learn by reading; Those who learn by watching; and Those who have to stick their tongue on the frozen metal pole and find out for themselves. As you’ll soon see, I spent the two summers in this book with each of these types of people, and freely admit that I am, and will continue to be, all three depending on mood and circumstances. It keeps my life more interesting. What’s your excuse? The folks that you’ll “meet” are my family and friends and they have a knack for saying the damnedest things at the perfect moments. The names of these people, for the most part, have not been changed to protect the innocent, because there weren’t any. The recounting of these days is based on my recollections and experiences, from my point of view, and with my insights and sense of humor. Everything in this book is true. Others’ memories of these days may be different than mine, but surely you understand that I can’t be held accountable for their memory lapses, inattentiveness to the details, lack of perception, or skewed remembrance of events. In all fairness, I must also share with you one of my favorite fishing quotes passed down by my good friend Fred (Big Fella) Apt to his son Rick who has tossed it my way more than once, “All fisherman are liars, except you and me, and I’m not so sure about you.” You’ll do well to remember this if you intend to read any further. That, and the fact that everyone mentioned in this book as having joined me aboard Aislyn is a fisherman or woman with the exception of Capt. Apt’s bride, Louise.

Serious Disclaimer: Throughout this book you will encounter a plethora (yes, plethora) of sayings, phrases, similes & metaphors. Many of them are my creations, but most of them are one’s my friends and family use in their day-to-day dealings with other human beings and the world at large. I don’t know who originally said many of them, I only know that we use them often enough in our communications to have them become familiar and feel like ours. I mean no disrespect to the originators of these pearls, nor is it my intention to infringe on any ownership claims. I’ve cited the authors of those I could find, and it is my sincere hope that those who I’m not privy to will view my/our use of their creations as the sincerest form of flattery: we’re using their words still today and spreading them for future generations to enjoy, and employ.

“Not-So-Serious” Disclaimer: Just to be on the safe-side and cover ALL of the bases:

Once upon a time…