Fish Heads

When I was a kid, every time my dad would catch a big catfish, he'd hang the head on the fence. Kind of a "hey, everyone, look what I caught" declaration . Taxidermy for the not so rich and famous if you will.

Anyway, I remember throwing rocks at the fish heads and how they would clunk and rattle when I would throw a perfect strike. Entertainment for a country kid comes in all fashions and playing Nolan Ryan while the catfish head served as Jim Sundberg was just one of the ways I passed the lazy summer days atop a blacktop hill.

While driving down Texas Highway 16 between Goldthwaite and San Saba, I passed by these catfish heads and turned around to take a second look and relate that story to my wife and kids. It is amazing how something as arcane can kick start memories. As I drove away, I couldn't help but smile and think of the way I imagined the cicadas cheering whenever I'd throw a strike... all those years ago atop a blacktop hill.