My first HOW event....

OK, Those of you who have read my posts before know I can be wordy,( I use a lot of words to make my point, case in point here)....I have volunteered twice before for HOW events but do to my own stuff and a couple of outside events I backed out.

Mainly because I wasn't confident about my abilities on the water and well being a Newb or "Boot"..I couldn't possibly be as good as all the other NCKA`ers helping because I didn't have the experience or the right gear ,etc.etc.etc....

So I attend a couple of self rescue clinics , big thanks to RockRoach and Sean Morley, and I get some confidence.I find I have some gear as everyone else,learn to add a few more pieces here and there and then....BAM ! WHAMO! BOOM!..it hits...these guys don't really care  but not in a negative way...They don't care because they were Newbs  once..in fact it was as if I have always been part of the group...which for me and My stuff being part of a group is really hard...

So how does this tie into a HOW event( no pun intended)....observing the "group " interact made me remember we`re all at different places in our lives..I`m no different ,although the stinking thinking  tells me I am...

So I chose to volunteer again for a few reasons which are probably more selfish than anything.. 1. Because I backed out before. 2. I needed to earn the respect of those I backed out on. 3.I`m going to let myself be vulnerable and show up with the gear I have and allow myself to be taught something new. 4. I fished SPR as a kid so i thought I might be able to hook up the Vets ( ok that was a skunker day) and last 5. I`m a Veteran ,a Navy Corpsman to be exact,once Corpsman always a Corpsman ( like DG said " what is it with Corpsman and Motrin ? ).

So I get there and am I intimidated . All this gear and kayaks and fishing gear and "they" might really know I really don't know what I`m doing ..Blah,Blah Blah in my head   and then I see Don and he shakes my hand and says thanks for showing up  and I start setting up gear ...If you read Raydons narrative of the day he used the word expertise at my setting up kayaks..Thanks Raydon you are to kind but I just followed Jed...

So anyway the Vets show up, gear up..and we hit the water...The two guys I was with were in a tandem and they were off..paddled  my ass to keep up they wanted to hit that water like right now..so I follow we B.S. about fishing  explain what I know about SPR..and then one of the kids says... "I don`t even care if I catch anything this is soooo not Afghanistan getting my ass flipped over when our vehicle hit an IED...hah" .....

Suddenly my my stuff was not that important and I could care less if I had all the ''right" gear and had all the experience of some of the guys and was one of the cool guys...

 I had a blast fish on or not...Thanks to those Vets who were there ,your still serving.... you might not be wearing your cami`s and carrying a weapon, but your giving..My wish is you all get well and find the peace you deserve....

And to the NCKA`ers thanks for not giving a crap

Awesome VK!!!

  Kool write up and way to put it out there….

I understand completely " The Suck " as it seems to be named by our fighting boys these days…   

No worries here, your welcome anytime, anywhere, always…   This is really a great group and a great sport to lose yourself in…

No need to ever feel intimidated,  it's just kayak fishing, the vibe that transcends NCKA, PIF, HOW and what we do here in so many ways, is all about helping others…

  I do strongly believe it's why were here…

 and "not too give a crap"   

Love the write VK and don't miss Kelsey!!!       

OK, Those of you who have read my posts before know I can be wordy,( I use a lot of words to make my point, case in point here)...

If your "wordiness" continues to be as open and thoughtful as this post, keep 'em coming!  Right on! I look forward to meeting you at Kelsey in October!

Janice aka Big J

Nice meeting you at the last 2 events and if you are thinking it others probably do. So I am sure your post was meant to be and will help get someone past their struggles. 

And yes just take some Motrin and it will all be better but make sure you hydrate. 

Semper Fi

Thanks for coming Vick.

Thanks, VK for the great write up.
  I thought you were an old salt as they say in the Navy. This was my first HOW event  a real newbie to kayak fishing and NCKA. The Military was my life for so many years which I've missed the past 10 years. After reading about HOW on this site, and NCKA involvement. I knew this would be a way to reconnect and maybe help out where I could. I was worried about being excepted until the first hand shake on Friday morning. I had a great day. Thank you all for making me feel at home. I got more out of the event then you will never know. Plan and making every event I can. See you soon  John AFCM

Most of the volunteers that show up know that HOW is not about NCKA.    It's about the vets and getting their butts in the seat of a kayak, or just chilling.   Thanks to all that showed up. 

Yup HOW is more about the vets just chilling out and getting a chance to decompress. We have lots of them here in Texas who say, "it saves lives!"  Keep it up keep going, keep volunteering and make a difference. These veterans, especially the young ones need us old guard to help them out. 

Just read this thread - this is what it's all about. Not personal politics, etc, etc, etc.

Thank you for posting...and serving, and volunteering...