When a fisherman loses her mother

As some of you may know I have some sad news.  After a year long battle with a rare form of kidney cancer, my mom, Jeanne Pickett passed away.   I was blessed with being able to be by her side, holding her hand, along with my sister, as she passed.  This was a blessing to me because I feared I would be out fishing and not have a chance to say goodbye.  Needless to say, this was a hard storm to weather.  I turned to poetry to express my emotions.  I wrote this for last week for the service.  Its called:

One Single Tear

I will miss you mom,

I always looked up to you.

You were my first role model

and always knew what to do.

You taught me to be brave

to follow my heart.

To  carry my own weight

and always do my part.

You taught my to be strong,

to do what is right

to always soldier on

and that sometimes, you have to fight.

You always were a fighter

a strong woman through and through

but there was just one battle

that was too much, even for you.

We got to hold your hand

when death came it was clear

that you weren't ready to go

when you shed that single tear.

But your struggle is over

it was hard to let you go.

You are in a better place now,

that much, I now.

So its goodbye for now 

but don't be surprised

when we meet again

east of the sunrise.

In loving memory of 

Jeanne F Pickett

Born 

November 27, 1938

Laid to rest

April 21, 2012

2012 FisherPoets Gathering is coming!

The 15^th Annual FisherPoets Gathering in beautiful downtown Astoria, Oregon is right around the corner.  It kicks off at 6 PM Friday February 24 and goes until Sunday afternoon.   The FisherPoets Gathering is an Astoria tradition, bringing folks in  the commercial fishing industry together to share original poems, stories, songs, memoirs, essays and art in celebration of the work and its folks.  (http://www.clatsopcc.edu/community/fisherpoets-gathering).  Check out their Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/FisherPoets?sk=info).

This event has been on my radar for years.  Last year, I decided to finally make it happen but instead of just being a spectator, like a normal person would, I took the bull by the horns.  I performed.  My first act was at the  biggest venue,  live on the radio.  No pressure.  I walked up on stage and those lights blinded me and my mind went blank.  Completely blank, like a deer in headlights.  Good thing I wrote down what I was supposed to say.  “Hi, my name is Jen Pickett and I’m a commercial fisherman.”  Once I started reading my script, I eased into it a bit and it was smooth sailing after that.   I had a wonderful time and met some wonderful folks.  

I’m looking forward to this year's event and I’ve been working hard on some new stuff to read.  So if find yourself in the Astoria area the last week in February, stop on by!  See you in Astoria!

But, here is a sneaky peak, this one’s for you, Suzie!

To all the fish I’ve caught before
Jen Pickett

To all the fish I’ve caught before

For whom I’ve traveled way offshore

I searched far and near

I dedicate this beer

To all the fish I’ve caught before

To all the fish I’ve dressed

And baby I’ve dressed the best

For giving up their roe

I owe a lot I know

To all the fish I’ve caught before

The winds of chance are always blowing

And every time I try to stay

The winds of chance continue blowing

And they just carry me away

To all the fish I’ve snared in my reel

Who are now someone else’s meal

In my fish hold I did stow ‘em

I dedicate this poem

To all the fish I’ve caught before

To all the fish who’ve died for me

And kept me from bankruptcy

They live within my heart

And will always be a part

Off all the fish I’ve caught before

Those winds of chance are always blowing

And every time I try to stay

The winds of chance continue blowing

And they just carry me away

To all the fish I’ve caught before

For whom I’ve traveled way offshore

I searched far and near

I dedicate this beer

To all the fish I’ve caught before