I go fishing on an average of about once a week these days. When the weather permits it I go pretty much every single Saturday and will even take vacation time from work periodically to get in a couple of extra days of fishing. In my opinion I've earned it. I worked for 25 years with little to no hobbies and spent 99% of my time involved in family oriented tasks or obligations. I'm not complaining mind you, just referrencing. Now my youngest son is 2 years removed from graduating high school and is doing great in the military as a MP. It's "ME" time now! So on Saturday I get up around 5am and get my stuff together and begin the hour drive to Lake Fork to get in a full day of fishing. The most recent weather report had indicated that I should expect 55 to 60 degrees, sunshine and 5 to 10 mph winds. I launch my boat right at sun up in 38degree temps, completely overcast, misty and probably 25 mph winds. I fish for 2 hours with very little improvement in the weather and zero success in catching fish. With a wind chill of what had to be less than 30 degrees I am bundled up on the front of my boat with the trolling motor moving accross 2 or 3 foot waves fishing and searching for that special spot where the fish are actually feeding. I have a huge hoody, thermal underwear and several layers to try to keep warm. I have my Iphone in my pocket which is connected to my bluetooth headphones that is playing a audiobook of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am using my most expensive and favorite Rod and Reel and i'm thinking seriously that I might be inclined to make this a very, very short outting because I was miserable. Then I take a wrong step and like some big hand from behind thumped me on the back of the head I do a full face plant right into the lake. I lose my Iphone, headphones, best polorized sunglasses that were sitting on the brim of my cap and a 450.00 rod & reel combo. The only thing I can remember is that during that brief 2 seconds I was thinking that my trolling motor was still running fairly fast and if I don't get back to the surface quickly my boat would run off and leave me in the water 400yards from the nearest shore. I'm swimming before I even hit the water. As I break the surface and immediately look for the boat I have just enough time to take 2 big swimming strokes and catch the back end of the boat as it passes by me. I pull myself up into the boat and immediately the shock of the 49 degree water hits me. I have about 20 minutes of drive time to get to the boat ramp and by the time I get there I am so cold I barely manage to walk over to the my truck and get the heater going. I sit in my truck for about 30 minutes with the heater running full blast before I stop shivering and can manage the stregnth to go load my boat and head home. Still windy as hell and cold. I get my boat loaded finally and head home. I'm about 5 miles from the lake and the sun peaks out of the clouds. I'm 10 miles from the lake and the sun is in full shine. by the time I get home the sun is shining in full glory and the wind has died to almost nothing and it's one of the most beautiful days I've seen in a while. But the 1 hour drive home gave me an opportunity to think about things. I took the whole event in stride because it turned out ok but I started thinking about the "what if's"! I was less than 1 foot away from being out of reach of the boat and that would have left me in 49degree water, 400 yards from shore with huge amounts of clothes on and shoes that certainly would have wieghed me down. What if? Is my wife in a spot in her life where she could have survived this thing if things had happened differently? Not just emotionally but financially? Have I insured recently that my Mom, Sister, my boys and my little grandbaby knows that my love for them is endless? I have spent so much time the past 2 year indulging myself in this past time that I might have ignored other areas of my life that are just as important. I made a few phone calls on Sunday and at least let some of them know how I feel about them. So don't wait! If you have people in your life that are important to you go tell them! Right now...............
..... Oh yeah! And wear a life jacket! I use to be too macho for it. but I can promise you i will from now on!