My neighbors Parker and Patty are always telling me how proud they are to be a part of Port O’Connor, Texas. They say it is a great community and so friendly. Last week they had company. They went out fishing and had some …well…problems. Patty was backing the boat at the ramp and got turned sideways. After several tries and much frustration, a neighbor jumped in the truck, literally, and gave her a quick refresher lesson on backing the trailer. Success!
Once on the water, Parker had fresh bait in the bubbler bucket, but obviously the batteries were not fresh. While expressing his frustration at the marina, a helpful fellow fisherman produced a pack of batteries that he willingly gave to Parker accepting no money in return.
After fishing with some success for the morning, the boat decided to do a little wade fishing. Just across the way in one of their favorite cuts, they caught several legal fish, and one member of the company enjoyed some bird watching. When heading back to the beached boat, a guest of Parker’s cut his foot on something in the water. It was not deep, but painful and possibly serious in our water as we all know. He also lost his wade belt in the process. Parker was anxious about the injury and revved the boat the wrong direction, getting it firmly stuck in the silt. The group was really in a bad way at this point.
Just when Patty thought it was a true emergency situation, two young fishermen zoomed by, turned quickly, and came back to investigate. These two guys grew up on the water around POC. They did not know Parker and Patty, but they were ready and able to help. One good Samaritan put alcohol on the cut foot and wrapped it with clean gauze which he just happened to have in his boat. The other jumped out and retrieved the floating wade belt and equipment. They then attached a rope to Parker’s ties and gave him some valuable and much needed help pulling his boat out of the murky silt and grass. Once free, they laughed with the stranded group, accepted only sincere thanks and prepared to go on their way. Just as they pulled alongside to turn around, they tossed Patty a tube of sunscreen. Here Ms. Patty, they said. You must have forgotten yours, ‘cause that nose is really red! The two young guys, possibly in their early twenties, left only their first names, huge smiles and POC goodwill behind. They asked for nothing in return and acted in a manner that I am sure would make their POC fishing guide granddad very proud. “Be careful out there,” Parker called, “and catch a big one!” That’s POC small town hospitality and fishing etiquette!
