Today kicks off the spring El Pout fishing weekend. Big Guy and about 20 buddies will fish Friday and Saturday at a lake on the Missouri-Arkansas border. Sunday, they return home with dirty laundry, muddy shoes and stories they aren't going to share. Twice, Big Guy left the house this morning. First time, he remembered he remembered his fishing gear. Second time, he remembered his work backpack. It seems that Big Guy forgot he is working one-half day before splitting town.
I look forward to my twice yearly El Pout weekends. The flurry of scooting Big Guy out the door takes me back to the first day of kindergarten for Daisy and then Birdie. Without fail, Big Guy is nearly that excited every time he departs on this fishing trip. And I know that when he returns, he will be a more relaxed, less stressed mate. Big Guy works hard. This weekend with his work buddies and a few other guys gives him a chance to play hard, too.
This time, my El Pout weekend is extra special. Daisy's music sorority is hosting a Mom's Weekend in Columbia, Mo. Sis flies in from Atlanta and then she and I will drive together to Columbia and camp at Daisy's apartment. Birdie will drive up from Fayetteville, Ark. Without fish, water or mud, the four of us will play and feel the pleasure of being with good friends.
On Sunday, we will hug each other hard, pledge to do it again and return to our responsibilities. We won't create a pile of laundry as massive as the one Big Guy creates; neither will mud cake our shoes. But we will have stories and they won't be ones for sharing.
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