08/23/2018

The only constant is change.

Being my last day on the water I decided to fish one of the local lakes. I’d already tried several and they had all been productive. I moved onto the fishing pier and tried my luck with the big ones. Not surprising they were not tempted by my lure. I switched to a bobber and the action started immediately.

One of my difficulties i have is I’m not satisfied just catching fish. I like at least the possibility of size. I threw my line close to the abundant weeds in hope of enticing an errant bass. The wind blew and my line drifted and before I knew it I was in the weeds. I reeled in and my line lodged. My line came but my last bobber stayed in the weeds.

Time to try a new tactic. I rigged my pole for bottom fishing but no luck. I knew if I had my bobber I’d be catching fish. That’s when I decided to try something different. For the first time in my life I fished the bottom for bluegill. Once again I began to catch fish.

I have prided myself on my willingness to think outside the box and try new things to overcome stubborn tasks. When the traditional ways aren’t working you have to either change or continue to fail. That is true in life and I guess now I’ll have to say it’s also the case in fishing.

THOUGHTS: Far too often we face our challenges by repeating the same actions that haven’t worked in the past and hope to find a different result today. If instead we try a new approach there is a possibility for success. Worst case we will know we tried.

 

08/22/2018

Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

One of the efforts I try to make is to visit historic sites I encounter during our travels. On my way to a fishing lake I saw the sign for Fort Snelling. I knew nothing about this fort but decided to check it out.

I was initially put off by the $12 entrance fee but decided to take the plunge. I entered the information video just in time to watch the credits roll. The sign said every 30 minutes which meant I had another 15 to wait. I opted to move on to the exhibits in the visitors center.

Fort Snelling was one of the oldest settlements in the state of Minnesota. The fort is over 180 years old. The fort tower is the oldest structure in the state and the commandants house is the oldest house in the state. The fort was active until after World War II. Fort Snelling served as a powerful force in the wilderness and as a covert intelligence training center in the 20th century.

Fort Snelling also has another side. It housed slaves from 1820-1840 while slavery was illegal in the territory and detained Dredd and Harriet Scott while they awaited trial in the 1850’s. It served as a concentration camp for the Dakota after the Dakota War in 1862 and and an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. These events were depicted along with the story of the positive ways the fort transformed the territory and the nation.

My visit to Fort Snelling was both informative and provocative. It made me think about what has transpired and how that could alter our actions in the future.

THOUGHTS: The past is the past and while all facts are subject to interpretation, the events of the past can’t be ignored. We need to own our past . . . all of our past. We need to remember the past to ensure we do better in the future.

 

08/21/2018

My initial thought was “Oh great, that ought to ruin the day. “ I’d Just driven an hour to try out a new promising lake. After pulling into the parking lot a school bus pulled in right behind me. Fifteen grade schoolers piled out toting pole bags and tackle boxes. They all went to the nearby pavilion with their instructor to get set up for the day.

I instead waited in my car to see what they were going to do. I had images of them scattering across the park and filling every available spot. One by one they baited their lines and headed out. To my surprise every one of them went to the fishing pier. It wasn’t long until I heard an excited squeal. “I got one!”

With them concentrated at the pier I took off down the path to find another place to fish. Not far along I found access to a stand of lilly pads. I took out my bass rig and made my first cast. As I reeled in close to shore my swimming lure was literally accosted by five to ten small bluegill. I continued to cast but the elusive bass I sought was no where to be found. That’s when I made the decision to try my luck with the bluegill.

I cast out and immediately caught a small fish. Again and again I cast and either got bites or caught fish. I looked up and saw the children were loading up to leave. Now I could go after the bass I wanted off the pier.

I arrived at the end of the pier and again began to cast my swimmer. This bait had been effective earlier in the week but today I could only snag weeds. That’s when I decided to again switch to bluegill. That’s when it started to get crazy. I immediately caught a fish and continued to get fish or bites on every cast. If someone would have been fishing with me they would have heard me excitedly say, “I’ve got one!”

THOUGHTS: It’s easy to get caught up in the technology and gadgets that dominate our world. We look for big accomplishments and bigger rewards. Try instead to recognize the small victories that are along the way. As they come be willing to excitedly exclaim, “I got one!”

08/20/2018

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

This question has made me ponder since I first heard it as a child. It was foreign to me on several levels. Foremost, what was a woodchuck? Being raised in Kansas this animal was not known. Second, what did it mean to chuck wood? Did it refer to chopping the wood or throwing the cut wood into a storage shed to be used later?  Finally, even if the woodchuck was able to chuck the wood with its tiny paws why would it want to? I admit I didn’t spend a huge amount of time on this question but it is one of those reoccurring phrases that came up periodically throughout my life.

I’m glad to say I believe today I solved the riddle. The furry little animal on the right is a woodchuck. The wood shed was located nearby stocked with wood. Therefore the answer to the riddle is – woodchucks can chuck an entire shed full of wood . . . And they can sell it for $6 a bundle.

THOUGHTS: In life we are confronted with difficult questions that seem to have no answers. When we chose to look beyond the negativity that overwhelms us we can find the joy in life itself. Obviously this illustration is tongue in cheek but it points to the joy and wonder all around.

08/19/2018

Some say it’s always darkest before the dawn. Others know it’s even darker before the big presentation.

Today has been a day of preparation. Melissa has worked on her training presentation and I have prepared for the coming week. I think each would have been happier doing the others task.

As mates you support each other but also realize you can’t preform the others task. Instead you support, uplift and prepare to be available when asked. It seems hard to sit by waiting. Yet even here we find joy in the accompaniment of another’s job well done.

THOUGHTS: Ask not what your mate can do for you. Ask what you can do for your mate (paraphrased).

08/18/2018

Today Melissa had a day off so we went fishing. We had booked a guide on Mille Lucs while still in Arkansas. Turns out the lake is one of the premier walleye lakes in the state. We chose to fish for small mouth but it was renown for bass as well.

We hit the water at 8 in the midst of overcast and fog. The guide was a self proclaimed professional twenty something. We were skeptical but when “ya pays your money ya plays the game.” I caught a couple of small fish as the guide explained how Mille Lucs was different than other lakes. The bass took off when it was calm and sunny rather than choppy and overcast (the usual on other lakes).  We fished one proven spot after another with little luck.

As our six hour day was winding down we returned to a reef that had not yielded fish earlier. The water had calmed and the sun was bright and clear. Our guide tried a new crank bait he’d never used before. Bam Bam. Two large bass on two casts. He tied one on for me and again Bam Bam. Two fish on two casts. After several more casts the oddest of all. A large walleye slammed my bass lure. As it came up near the boat my 24” walleye was being chased by a 20” small mouth. When both saw the boat they both took off, leaving me exillerated but with no fish.

The day turned out great. The weather was perfect and the fishing ended well. Best of all Melissa and I shared a moment.

THOUGHTS: Funny how things aren’t always what they seem. I misjudged the weather and the guide but ultimately had to put my trust in both. They came through. Life is often the same. We look at the hand we’ve been dealt and only see the shortfall. When we continue to trust and follow our guide we’re able to not just make it through but to have success along the way. We can have a moment.

A long journey begins with but a single step.

08/17/2018

This week we took the first step on the journey that will mark the rest of our lives. I had retired two months ago but spent most of the time preparing the house to make it livable. Clearing out the old, new paint and new appliances. We got a lot done but still a lot to finish.

This week Melissa went for her final training in St Paul Minnesota. It has been a long but good week for her. As for me I’ve gotten to explore. Some sightseeing and a lot of attempts at fishing. I say attempts bec of the three days I’ve been out there is only one fish to account for.

We have been able to eat at some good restaurants in the evening and I’ve started swimming in the afternoon. All in all very relaxing for me and Melissa is doing the work she enjoys. We’ll keep you informed as things progress.