Babs has been taking experimental routes home. She writes: This was taken somewhere in the depths of Antrim County. I often drive a different way on my trip back from East Jordan and cannot tell you where I’ve been. This was one of those trips. It’s a small lake somewhere with one fisherman. I can’t say if his trip was a success or not. Finally spring has come and we are moving right along toward summer. I suspect she has been looking for morels and is being cagey. But she sent us this picture, so that’s all right then.
I can tell you this. Whether that fisher came home with fish or not, the trip was almost certainly a success.
Posted in: Babs Young photos
Torch Lake Views 
Babs Young
May 30, 2011
I like that you call him a fisher. I was going to write fisherperson, but I find that awkward and since he was a male, I used his gender. Fisher is much better. It goes without saying that man or men at the end is very offensive to me as well. I try to avoid that whenever possible and you have the best solution.
Gerry
May 30, 2011
I always like to get these little gold stars. Thank you, Babs.
I was going to write fisherperson too, but then I thought, wait, wait–why not stop at fisher?
There is, of course, a bad-tempered mammal called a fisher. It’s related to weasels and skunks, and haven’t we had enough of them for awhile. My beloved Stan Tekiela says that fishers do not fish, but that they are “one of the few animals that will routinely kill and eat porcupines.” Well. I wish to make it clear that I am not comparing fishing people with non-fishing weasels called fishers. No indeed. But I am trying to find my way through the thicket of sexist language that has grown up around otherwise serviceable English words. It is not easy. Take “mailman” for example. I refuse to say “mailwoman.” “Letter carrier” works, but does not cover all the bases. Perhaps I should ask Katherine about this. Or Dee Grammer.
P.j. grath
May 30, 2011
I can see that photograph as a painting, and I kind of like not knowing where the lake is or what name it would carry on a map. Mysteries can add to beauty, no? Yes!
Gerry
May 30, 2011
We’ll keep it a secret then . . .
katherine
May 30, 2011
Mailperson sounds strange also. I have no idea then. Mail deliverer isn’t good, ummmm, hey you, watch out for the dog….?
Speaking of which, I have to work tomorrow, goodnight.
Gerry
May 31, 2011
Hey you, have a good shift.
Joss
May 31, 2011
My thoughts on looking at this scene include: that water is incredibly clean and there’s no pond weed or green scum on it so this can’t possibly be anywhere in England; and, what’s in those woods? Their not being English woods means there could be bears lurking! The country-side is all very safe here. I think you’re all very brave!
Gerry
May 31, 2011
I thank you for the compliments. The waters of northern Michigan are, for the most part, remarkably clean. However . . . it was not always so, and sometimes we get lackadaisical even now. Eternal vigilance is the price of clean water as well as of many other things. But pond weed is all over the place, and there is stinking green scum down on the bayshore as we speak, so there’s work to be done.
As for the bears, one wandered right into Traverse City the other day, so I guess there’s no way I can reassure the Tourist People about that. (Proper Authorities were called in to tranquilize and remove the bear to exile, but it was quite a sensation.)
No matter where we go, there we are, mortal as all get-out.
Dawn
May 31, 2011
Lovely photograph. I agree, it would make a great painting!
Gerry
June 1, 2011
Babs can be a very painterly photographer.