Second Thoughts # 7 – Fishy Past

Ah…the old bent fishing rod. I was out for a walk a few evenings ago and midway into my stroll, I was passed by a couple of kids on their pedal bikes. I gave way to the little band of brothers and noticed something reminiscent as they zoomed on by. There were four of them. Like a moving screen grab of modern-day Stand by Me, Goonies, or IT. Or, for the younger crowd reading this post, Stranger Things. I kind of wanted to salute them in passing as they gave me a nod and went on their way. They looked like a good group of friends for sure. What struck me the most was how they had their fishing poles secured to their bikes. The fishing rods they were carrying were pointed straight up toward the sky like you would assume. Only, their rods had a massive bend at the top of them because when you pulled the line tight to fix the hook in one of the line holes, it created a slight curve. Smart move as they would have run the risk of hooking into someone or something while flying by on their journey home after a long day of adventures. Anyway, the moment those kids rode by me happened in an instant, but the flashes of memories that they had created for me lasted the rest of the night and into the process of writing this entry. I allowed that slideshow to play itself out, over and over. Like a short trailer of young episodes of my youth.

The visions were vivid, but there were a few things about the atmosphere around me that added to the backdrop of my virtual flashback. It was misty that evening and fog was smothering me with a dampened hold, it was an extra skin. The sky was overcast, and it was tethering suppertime. I was out for my regular walk with Poppy by my side and as usual, was allowing myself to be fully emersed in the moment. I took deep breaths and absorbed the freedom of time with not a care in the world. As I stood there on a random wharf, I could hear boats returning to port with their horns announcing their presence as they appeared through the fog that was swarming them. The entire port suddenly became invisible. You could see just a few feet from you with the foggy haze creeping in. All I could smell was the salty ocean and the wading kelp that danced toward the shoreline while seabirds scrouged for a meal. A small crab here and tiny fish there. Squawking and pecking at each other as they fought for the first bite. Meanwhile, a bunch of ducks flew in making the perfect landing ready for a relaxing float against the current of a freshwater brook which was pushing back against the ocean’s tide. Across the way, you could hear sporadic clangs and torch cuts as journeymen made their wages in the shipyard next to where I stood recalling my youth. By now, I was saturated with rainy mist and ready to move on. I did so with a smile. Residue of happiness from the stroll down the lane of memories created by a single trigger of adolescent play. It was a vibe I tell you. A vibe very familiar to me. I consider that whole scene a gift.

Speaking of which, I love these little gifts of life. The unexpected, the right now. I make it a priority to seek out these moments when I feel like life is pulling me away from the good parts. I get so automatized with the routine of life that I, yeah, I’ll say it, forget to stop and smell the roses at times. I have mentioned this before in previous posts and I believe in one of my podcasts. (By the way, one coming soon) that I bring a Dictaphone with me on my daily walks and have been voice-journalling for over three years now. I love it, I’m addicted. It’s my own personal assistant. It collects my thoughts, my what’s happening day to day, my processing of said what’s happening day to day, my self-job coaching, my problem-solving, my vents, my frustrations, my goals and achievements. I could go on and on. It’s been an awesome tool for me in combating my anxiety, it also boosts my creativity with story ideas and on-the-spot poems. And I get to record the life of well….me. Got the idea from Matthew McConaughey a few years back via his book Green Lights. Changed my life.

Alright, alright, alright…that’s it for me, I guess. I just figured I would share this little speckle of a moment with you. Spread a positive vibe and earn of few of your smiles and maybe even encourage you to go find some of your own moments. So, here’s to a good day and an even better tomorrow.

Until…