Reflection

Once in a while I thought of people that I have come across in life. Then I think about my own. We are here today and could be gone tomorrow.
Why not spend a lot of time fishing or doing anything and everything we want.
One of my life goal is to travel the whole US by car. Going from state to state and take all the scenery I could.

Today I thought about Antonio and Rob Luis. Passed too early too soon.

I hope my upper management don't see this. I am going fishing again soon, as I scan my schedule for a break. That's all.

This post can't be any more truthful !! I worked with an older guy that told me, "Nobody on their death bed ever says, I wished I worked more overtime when I was younger."  Time spent with friends and family are golden. You can ask your kids what they got for Christmas the last few years. Unless it was a major item, most gifts aren't remembered, but vacations are remembered.

I've recently been thinking of Rob as well, as I've been completing an art piece for one of his friends. I think I met Rob only once or twice maybe, but and i didn't know him, but he's been in my thoughts.
it's been a lot of years I've been here, so there are too many great individuals that aren't around anymore. I think that they are still with us, teaching us stuff through our memories, and i like that idea a lot. I try and take one new person out a season just trying to live up to some of those people and the memories they gave me.

When I'm driving home on a summer or fall afternoon on highway 1, kayak on the roof, sand on my bare feet it doesn't matter if the fishing was good or not. I'm in my happy place and i know how lucky I've gotten in the last 52 years.

absolutely, what y'all said

🙏  Amen!

I've lost quite a few friends over the years to accidents, sickness, and self inflicted accidents. There's a few I think about pretty darn often. And one or two that sometime during a drive under wide open skies bring tears to my eyes.

A good one, that passed from a stupid, avoidable accident liked to quote the most honored of philosophers, "take two dinner roles, and pile your plate high, because on the buffet of life there are no second helpings" - Fred Flintstone

I feel like I've known more than my share who died of self-inflicted non-accidents. It started with my best friend in high school, and most recently, a close colleague at work just a few years ago. For me, those are the saddest of all, as it always seems like there should have been something I could have done to prevent it...

Great post! I’ve been reflecting too on how thankful I’m to be part of the NCKA community. I met many kind people on the water. One gave me a Sabiki and saved my salmon fishing adventure. Another taught me about wildlife. Random people at the beach help me load the kayak on the car.. so many positive interactions. I got extra bait that I wanted to keep, but gave it to another guy I don’t even know, and right away I knew it was the right thing to do. When I die, I won’t remember how many salmon I caught, or how delicious they were, or how hard I worked for them. But I’ll remember all the good things others have done for me and the good things I’ve done in return.

Thanks Chet. I lost a good friend this year after his 6 year battle with cancer. As his body failed him, his mind was clear and he went kicking and screaming (figuratively). The man did not want to go so soon and he had a wife and son he didn’t want to leave.

A few weeks after that, another man I know as more of an acquaintance hung himself in the garage after an argument with his wife and son.

Two such tragic tales. I don’t know what to make of it to be honest.

I guess to embrace those that you love, tell them you love them, and to enjoy life as it is precious, mysterious, majestic, and potentially shorter than anyone expects. 

Appreciate all of you in this community. Hope we fish soon.

Great post Chet.

Too many gone too soon.   

I got to dive with Antonio’s son awhile back…and I think about him and Rob and Joel and others a lot.

 

Great post Chet.

Too many gone too soon.   

I got to dive with Antonio’s son awhile back…and I think about him and Rob and Joel and others a lot.

 

This post made me think about Mooch, whom I've actually never met but only heard so much about. He was the soul of this community/board and surprisingly some of his words I've seen have had an impact on me. Sounded like he got this thing called life right. Wish I had the chance to meet him...