Cheney Free Press -

Late summer of my 12th year delivered two life changing moments. The first was a brief and thrilling encounter with a mighty chinook salmon, whose massive form ascended the Skykomish river and bit the garden worm I was drifting for trout. The second occurred on the first day school when I witnessed the summer transformation of the girls I'd known since kindergarten.

Like a mint bright chinook, the girls were suddenly mysterious and alluring, stunningly beautiful and enticingly elusive. Also like the chinook, I desperately wanted to catch one, but had no idea how.

Persistence eventuall...