The Bear Went Over the Mountain

After work, many people go home and lounge on the couch. Some people watch television, some listen to music. Many people go in search of social stimulation. What do I do after a long hard day in the office? Well, I love to fish. I love to float around on the water, and do nothing but watch the end of a fishing pole and drift far back into the reaches of my mind. Some people need to cross their legs, close their eyes and chant to really get deep into thought. Me, I fish. I don't know what it is, and I cannot explain other than to say that the little glimmer of hope that I could catch a big fish, combined with the peace of mind of being free from everything for a few hours takes me beyond just sorting through myself. It takes me to a headspace where I question the fabric of the universe. What do we really know? Why do we trust science so readily? One day science tells us that Newton's physics will answer our questions. Soon Einstein is introduced to the equation, and much of what we thought we knew is altered. How do we know that we are on the right track now? How do we know that we are not ignoring a better science? How do we know that we would recognize a better science if we came across it? Would we be able to adapt it, or are we too set in our old ways? Whoa...

Fishing is also a great way to get to know people. I have a little fishing boat, perfect for two people and about twelve beers. There are many types of people in this world. Here are some of them:

-the person who will drink some beer
-the person who will not drink beer
-the person that drinks more than half the beer
-the person who brings whiskey too

-the person who cleans their hook off, and drops the weeds in the bottom of your boat
-the person who drops the fish into the bottom of the boat before taking the hook out (we're talking fish that are to be released)

-the person who is afraid of fish
-the person who is afraid of water
-the person who is afraid of their Captain!

-the person who talks about girls
-the person who talks about women
-the person who talks so much you don't follow him
-the person who talks about fire
-the person who lies about fish they've caught
-the person who never says a word

-the person who hooks your tackle box
-the person who hooks the motor
-the person who hooks your lifejackets
-the person who hooks you
-this person is usually the same person by this point in time

So what does all this say about a person? So what, the question is, did they catch anything, right? WRONG! Fishing is a social artform. Fisherman know a language that few others know. When it is appropriate to talk. When to listen. When to be honest. When to be loud. When to whisper. When to use body gestures.

What does it mean? We may never know, but I have a sneaking suspision that those who know how to fish, and I mean that in the deepest sense of the phrase, must be better because of it. It makes sense, doesn't it?

Tight lines all...