People are the same the world over in a lot of ways. Oh, we may speak a different language, dress a bit differently, and have ever changing political views, but when it comes to fishing and enjoying the outdoors together, all our differences seem to fade.
I read in the paper this morning about a road rage incident. Two men in a traffic jam apparently lost it and in an attempt to prove his point, one man fell, struck his head on the pavement and died. Over what? Over someone else cutting in?
I have fished with friends all my life. Lots of those friends are family members, but they also are my friends. My wife and grown children are the best friends I have – and they are the ones with whom I have the greatest joy fishing.
I fish with lots of people. I fish with people from diverse backgrounds and different parts of the country, and yet, we all have that little something in common.
I met a man and his wife this week to whom I spoke maybe ten words. He asked for some web help on something totally outside the fishing world. Turns out he is a fisherman, and we now are swapping emails! Maybe we will fish together one day – who knows.
It’s nice to know that whomever I fish with cares to be called friend at the end of the day. It’s nice to know they want to stay in touch, even though we may never meet again down here.
I’m not going to make any political statements or world shattering predictions. But I wonder what the world would be like if everyone took time to step back and meet a friend. Oh, it’s not the fishing folks. It’s the fact that we take time to leave other things alone and be together with another human being. Catching fish is just the bonus in the bag!
Road rage? I have an idea. Let’s mount a small rod and reel in the back window of our vehicles – just big enough for the car behind us to see. Would you be as mad if you knew the next car that cut you off felt as you do about fishing? Maybe not. Maybe instead of rage, we could understand that maybe the person driving is having a bad day. Maybe by seeing that rod and reel – a symbol of a sort of kinship – we may back off.
Who knows? Tomorrow may be your bad day, and that little rod and reel you see when you look in your own rear view mirror may help you keep your cool!
I’m off to the tackle shop now – looking for a small rod and reel. Honk if you see me driving around! I’m the one with that little rod and reel in the window! I’ll honk back!
