A Journy to the Past

Fishing in Argentina in 2004

When I made the decision to return to my job as a full time mom it was with the full support and encouragement of my husband.  I consider myself incredibly blessed to not only have the opportunity available to stay home but to have a partner who understands the advantages and doesn’t mind working harder to make that possible.  Lately he has been working very hard, seven days a week hard.  I offered him the chance for a day off while the kids were in school and said I wouldn’t mind working for him a day in the shop.      I didn’t have to twist his arm much and today I found myself working my first full day back in the shop in a very long time. 

In 2004 Nick and I embarked on one of the scariest and most exciting adventures of our life together.  We reopened the Taos Fly Shop, his father’s previous venture from the early 80’s.  We started in a tiny little space, about 300 square feet, with barely an inventory and a lot of hope.  I had only been fly fishing for about a year but I was our sole employee, since Nick was still guiding almost full time in the summer.  With every item we sold we ordered two more and our little store started to grow.  We quickly gained a loyal client base and before I knew it we were a real Fly Shop.

Eagle's Nest Lake 2007

I was an integral part of the shop and soon all the tough outdoorsy guys walking in our shop were taking fishing advice from me, and I actually knew what I was talking about.  I definitely faced opposition from customers who weren’t comfortable talking to a girl about fishing.  I once had a man walk in, see me, turn around and leave, then walk back in and ask “Is there a young man here I can talk to?”  “Nope,” I said, “Just me.”

We expanded our store and for close to five years I worked in the shop almost every day.  It was my life and I truly loved it.  Nick and I fished in several states and different countries and fly fishing became part of who I was.  Then one day the shop closed early and a sign was up on the door reading “We are having a baby.”  And everything changed.

I quickly became immersed in my new life as full time mom and I loved every second.  When Tessie was a couple months old I started working again.  We set up a whole second nursery at the shop and she became as much a part of it as we were.  We took family fishing trips and people came in to see her as much as they did to shop.  As she got older it became harder to have her in the store and so I again returned home.  When Christian was born my life as a fisherwoman all but disappeared. 

Brazos 2008 (Pregnant with Tessie)

In the last couple of weeks I have spent a little more time in the shop and today I worked most of the day.  It felt great to be back in my old world.  I will admit that I am a bit rusty but I really enjoyed my visit to the past.  I spent the day telling old fishing stories, recommending flies, and feeling like I was a part of the family business again.  I got to see old friends and clients, all of whom were happy to see me back again.  A few people came in who hadn’t been in the store in years and so I imagine that to them I had been there all along.  I hope to spend more time in the shop in the future.  I still plan on being mostly mom, but I think having a little something else is important and also quite beautiful.