Saturday, September 19, 2020

Class ring lost while waterskiing returned 49 years later

 Class ring lost while waterskiing returned 49 years later


I read that article, and it reminded me of a story from one of Pat McManus books.  I looked it up, and the story is in the book 

"Never Sniff a Gift Fish", which brings up all sorts of wonders about the type of presents he received in his life. 

Anyway, here is the story it reminded me of:

Every day weird things happen for which there are no rational explanations. Take, for example, the case of Retch Sweeney’s watch.

Retch and I were trolling on a lake in Canada several years ago and, as he leaned over the side of the boat to net a nice rainbow trout I was bringing in, Retch’s watch came loose from his wrist and fell into the lake. Not only was the watch expensive, but it held great sentimental value: Retch’s wife had given it to him on their twentieth anniversary. It bore the inscription, “To Charley Bombi, for 40 years dedicated service to Acme Sand & Gravel Co.” Retch’s wife is a great one for sentiment.

Five years after Retch lost his watch in the Canadian lake, he and I went on a boat-camping trip on a lake in Montana. It is important to note that there is no waterway connecting the two lakes. After making camp, Retch and I went out to see if we couldn’t hook into one of the monster rainbows reported in the vicinity. Sure enough, as we trolled past the mouth of a stream, Retch’s rod whipped double and a few seconds later a beautiful rainbow was doing aerial gymnastics. We went back to camp and while I started preparing supper, Retch dressed out his fish. Suddenly he let out a great yell. I rushed over to see what had happened.

“Look what I found in this rainbow,” he shouted, holding up a shiny object.

“I can scarcely believe my eyes,” I said. “How could such a thing happen?”

“Beats me,” Retch said. “I’ve never even heard of anybody finding a bottle cap in the stomach of a fish before.”

“Me either,” I said. “Now if it had been the watch you lost in the lake up in Canada, I could understand that. You read in the newspapers all the time about that sort of thing happening.”

4 comments:

  1. I've read just about all of Pat's books. Good, wholesome American humor that will bring back memories for anyone who grew up in the countryside. I've literally been doubled-over laughing at some of his stories. The one about his dog and the preacher coming to visit is a classic!

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  2. I love that one too. I think my favorite of all time though is the one where he straps a deer to his bicycle and it comes to life and starts pedaling the bicycle. First time I read that thought I would bust i was laughing so hard.

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  3. OMG, Pat McManus is such a treasure! His story about the blizzard when he and Crazy Eddie used a parachute and saucer across the lake had me doubled over - I literally laughed so hard I couldn’t stand for five minutes. Long live McManus and his pervert dog, Strange!

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  4. Remember the one where him and crazy eddie made a bobsled run down the mountain and rancid crabtree insisted on riding down it?

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