The few, the proud...

Lake Tugalo, SC border

This post is a little deviation of the usual outdoors musings and thoughts. It's actually work related. Though there are many times when I'm outdoors enjoying myself when work calls and I have to answer. So it goes when one is a responsible human being.

All in all, this is a shout out of gratitude and appreciation to an individual who saw something in me and gave me a chance. Even when I wasn't sure that I was up to the task. I've always been the sort to seek out the approval of my elders and their wisdom as well. Who knew that I would get both from this man and then some.

He trained me for my current job and did his best to guide me in the correct direction while instilling in me values and ethics that are needed for the job. To this day he stresses that he's there for me even though I've been doing the job on my own for 3 years now. One of the things that stands out during that time of training and even to this day is the fact that he had a way of correcting me and also affirming when I was going in the right direction.

When I was screwing up he would refer to me as junior. For example, if I messed up something he'd say, "Junior, you f'd up!" He'd then laugh and correct me. He taught me hard and fast that it was ok to admit one's mistakes. Hell, there were a few times that he had me in tears.
When I did things that were good, he would say something along the lines of, "You did good there, son." It took me a while to catch on to his method. But once I did, I did my best to be sure the times he referred to me as "son" outnumbered the times he called me "junior."

Well today I called him up to update him on a couple of certifications that I have passed this past six months. I can't express the "feels" I got when he said, "I'm proud of you, son!"
I quickly acknowledge the fact that it's all because of him and his investing in my future that I am where I am today. And as a 44 year old man, I'm not ashamed to admit that.

I strive to pass ideals and ethics like that down to those who are younger than me. I don't always call them "sons or daughters", but I hope my actions convey that to them. It would be selfish and unwise for me not to do so.

The two that got away?

A couple of weeks ago Nathaniel and I spent a morning up at Tallulah Falls lake fishing. This place has been our new go to spot for a while since we decided to try new waters that are also more local. I'm going to go ahead and say that I was way under prepared for what happened. Both gear wise and mentally.

The first moment was up at the power plant. I was fishing my new Lews baitcaster in the tailwaters of the power plant using a large white spinner bait on 8lb test line. I made a cast to the right of the structure and it was on. I know that current can make any fish seem larger than what it really it, but when that bass jumped out of the water I knew that this was the fish of my lifetime. Finally. After fishing most of my life since I was a young boy, I knew I was close to my 10lb bass! Unfortunately I will never know how large that bass was, but I do know it was strong enough to break 8lb test like it was thread.

After the bass broke off I sat there in disbelief of what seemed like an eternity. I was speechless. But on the inside I was throwing a tantrum that would compete with any 2 year old in any department store. I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs. I wanted to beat the boat into a metal hunk of pulp. I wanted to jump over board and get swept away. Just like the one that got away.

Instead I placed my head into both my hands and bent over. Cried. I cried. Not necessarily tears of anger or even pain. But more like a catharsis of sorts. Memories of fishing from my childhood came up and went down with that bass in such a way that it actually felt good. From the lure selection to the placement and reading the structure. Every thing that I did was because of years of fishing. Now my selection of 8lb test was pretty irresponsible considering that several people told me that big bass are in this lake. So other than that, it felt good. I got to share that moment with a real good friend and in my moment of vulnerability I wasn't judged but I was allowed to experience that moment in the best way I knew how.

A while later while fishing a buzzbait another lunker of a largemouth bass struck. And though it wasn't as large as the first, it was still hefty. This one jumped and threw the lure out of its mouth. For a moment I thought that these fish were descendents of Moby Dick. Well, the composure that I had with the first loss was used up and I'm pretty sure that the old couple across the lake looked over our way and wondered why one of the guys on that johnboat was yelling damn! damn! damn! while beating on the aluminum seat of the boat.

After that loss I knew that I had to up my game. By that I mean I had to up my line test and focus.

Nathaniel and I thought that we'd try to see if we could duplicate what we experienced on Sunday by going back out on Monday. Though we didn't get anything to hit that was the size and caliber that we had on Sunday, Monday did produce more bass of good quality and size. Oh, I believe that this was the first fishing trip where both of us were either really tired and sleepy the first hour or extremely focused to the point where we had tunnel vision for wanting to hook into any bass over 5lbs. Either way, it was a Monday well spent. Fish being caught or not, spending time with buds while on the water, in a river, or on the banks is time well spent.

Caleb and Nathaniel @ Tallulah Falls Lake

Exploring

When I was a young boy growing up in Eastanollee, Georgia, I was most likely to be found in the woods. Anywhere in the woods. If there was any sort of water to be found, there was a good chance I was either right next to it or right in it. Exploring. As a grown man the same scenario still applies. During most free moments in my life I can be found in the woods. Exploring. A few days ago was my maternal grandmother's birthday. Thoughts of her raising me on that small farm crosses my mind just about every time I'm in the woods, by a river, even on a mountain. I'm truly grateful that she instilled* in me such values. Values which help me to appreciate what I have and where I come from. And to never stop exploring.

*Instilled is code for she sometimes had to beat it into me. I was pretty stubborn child at times.

Intro

Seed Lake

It's about time that I started jotting down my thoughts and adventures again. I've done this several times in the recent past, but I figured that it's healthy to share so it's time to get to sharing. But in an attempt not to over share, this will not be one of those every day nor even a weekly release of the craziness and other stuff that goes on in my life. Just like life, it'll happen when it happens. There will also be an attempt to keep posts brief as well.

There's no point into going into who I am and all that jazz at this moment. It's my hope that by sharing that the read will be able to come to their own conclusion about the writer.