Fish Truck

Cross one off the bucket list.  I have seen a fish truck.  I have climbed onto the bed of a fish truck.  I have bought fish from a fish truck.  I can now die happy.

For many years at the local feed store, I was intrigued by a sign, posted on the rickety front door, from time to time, announcing the coming of the fish truck. It advertised the date, time, and kinds of fish that would be available for purchase.  I always wondered what a truck full of fish would look like.  What I imagined was some kind of panel truck full of glass aquariums.  The reality is far different.

Wish I could say, "To make a long story short", but I can't, because the story is kind of long. 

So, yesterday, as Better Half and I were in the Boneyfiddle end of town for gardening supplies, passing by the feed store, I fairly screamed something to the effect, "Look, there's the fish truck!"

Better Half gave me one of those quizzical looks, as if to say, "Have you absolutely lost your mind?" as we zoomed right past the truck.

I gave him my romantic account of the sign on the door, and my curiosity about a fish truck.  Think about it.  Fish Truck.  I also happened to note on the side of the truck, as we zoomed by, a listing for "KOI CARP".

Better Half graciously made a turn around the block so that I might indulge in the fish truck experience. 

A fish truck, for those who have never seen one, nor given it a moment's thought, is simply a regular semi tractor trailer with a flat bed onto which tanks with lids have been fitted.  They remind me of  old fashioned ice cream freezers, each with a little door for a different flavor.  Bold red lettering on the tanks spell out the kinds of fish for sale. And, they smell to high heavens.

This particular fish truck hailed from Arkansas, operated by a husband and wife, both of whom looked as though they had spent the better part of their life in the sun.  Bronze is the word that best describes them.  Wife wrote up orders and took money.  Cash business, as Better Half noted.  Husband netted and bagged the fish, filling each bag with air, to allow for safe transit of the fish to their new homes.  Huge plastic bags holding hundreds of squirming striped minnows stood ready to go as I walked up to the truck.  Several people were milling about.  Better Half struck up a conversation with one of them about raccoons.  But, that's a whole other story. 

I patiently waited my turn to inquire, in my best yeahIknowallaboutbuyingfishfromafishtruck voice, "Do you have any koi?"

Husband, whose hair was longer than mine, answered, "Yeah, we have koi," not unkindly, but without enthusiasm.

Better Half then asked Husband if I might climb up onto the trailer to have a look at the fish.  Husband looked first at me, then at Better Half, no doubt wondering if the shabbily dressed middle aged woman could make it up the ladder.  Better Half assured him, much to my relief, that I would have no problems clambering up the side of a flatbed trailer.  And I was off.  Note, Better Half remained firmly planted on the sidewalk, watching, with some amusement. 

Husband and I made our way to the smelly tank that contained the koi.  He grabbed a net, scooped up several, and held them up for my inspection.  Buying koi is a lot like shopping for a new dress.  It takes some time.  You have to scour the racks, try on a couple handsful, parade in front of the mirror, pirouette a couple of times.  I think he sensed that I might like to see each and every koi on the truck and weigh the merits of each before I bought any.  Just as I got set to begin my deliberations, Husband pointed to an orangish yellow fellow, and exclaimed what a fine fish he would be.  Then, just as quickly, he pointed to a yellowish silver one, also noting what a fine specimen he was.  Quite before I knew it, and well before I wanted the endeavor to end, the fish were bagged, filled with air, and wedged between my feet in the pickup truck for their ride home.

As we were a couple blocks down the street, Better Half asked if I wanted to take a photo of the fish truck for posterity sake. He made yet another trip around the block back to the feed store and handed me his iphone.  There would be no photo this day.  The fish truck had already left.

Sad not to have the photo, but happy with my fish truck purchase, we set about acclimating the fish to the pond when we got home.  We set the bag in the pond to equalize the water temperature.  The fish truck koi were in fairly cold water.

Here are the two newest members of the clan, chomping at the bag to join their new friends.

Better Half released the fish into the pond, where they were immediately greeted by the other fish.  We wondered if the fish truck fish would be spurned for having come from the wrong side of the tracks.

 

Not to worry.  One big happy family. 

No names yet.  Thinking about Husband and Wife.  Or maybe Fish and Truck.