Summer Should be Year Round
Musing 5
Summer year round would be one of those proclamations I would make if I were king. Hunter S. Thompson called February, “the gloomy month,'“ as he suffered from bouts of depression annually during February. This isn’t unique to Thompson, in northern North America, “cabin fever,” “seasonal depression” etc. are all well studied phenomenons. For 6 months people have experienced less sunshine. That in & of itself can lead to bouts of depression due to low Vitamin D levels, which is well documented in clinical research. Then, when you consider the weeks-months of less physical activity, the monotony of being inside with the same people, lack of outdoor recreational activity… I have to agree with Mr. Thompson, February is pretty gloomy.
As of this musing much of the country, & especially the South is thawing from a winter storm, that at least to South Mississippi, brought lots ice. Tips for driving on ice: Have a four wheel drive vehicle & go slow. If you have a two wheel drive vehicle, stay at home dummy.
Above is a picture of Minnie the Moocher. If you haven’t met Minnie, please do: Minnie. After a particularly rough night in the wee hours of Tuesday (February 16) with a mixture of sleet & freezing rain, Minnie showed up bright & early Tuesday morning with her appetite. I made sure she got extra. She’ll eat any nut, but seems to have a preference for cashews, which I do too. Nature is truly amazing in how something so small as a squirrel can not only survive those temperatures (down into the teens), the sleet & ice, but seemingly go about their life as if it’s all just normal. Without complaining… Complainers
For 3 days there wasn’t much to do. Luckily, I never lost power. Sadly, I did not get as much writing done as I had anticipated. I actually spent an inordinate amount of time watching YouTube fishing shows filmed in the Florida Keys… which is where I had preferred to have been. I’ve been all over the state of Florida, & know it pretty well, however, I’ve never been to the keys. I hope to rectify that in the near future. Catching a Bonefish on a Fly is definitely on my “bucket list.” Which given the fact that I’ve never written out a bucket list… It’s the only thing on the list. I of course would love to catch the “Key’s Grand Slam,” which is a Bonefish, Tarpon, & Permit, but I’ll be content to simply start with a Bonefish.
Watching the fishing shows & watching anglers catch Bonefish, Tarpon, Mahi Mahi, etc. in the azure water of the Keys was cathartic in keeping the cold from going bone deep. It also renewed my interest in Fly Fishing. Fly Fishing is as much a practice in Zen as it is a sporting skill & art. Shunryu Suzuki, author of “Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind” details a student asking the teacher “What is Zen?” To which the teacher replied, “Zen is the sound of one hand clapping.” with no further explanation. That’s a confusing play on words to most folks… But I bet, at least some, fly fishermen will understand, for in Fly Fishing, one doesn’t cast a Fly.
I have a little 5 wt rod that I’ve had for years. I’m currently researching to decide what type of 9 wt rod to buy & what reel will balance well with it in order to begin practicing for my trip to the keys. 9 wt is the preferred wt for inshore salt water fishing & bonefish specifically, as I don’t dare consider myself expert enough to challenge a Bonefish with an 8 wt or 7 wt. Maybe one day. Any input from experienced salt water inshore fishermen is openly welcomed & much appreciated.
Therefore, if the cold did nothing else, I gained that from it. Something to mentally & physically prepare & practice for. Mental & physical engagement is critical physical & mental health, the Greeks told us this centuries ago. So despite February being gloomy, perspective can allow you to find a challenge, a challenge can bring about life experiences, as we never know where challenges will lead, and life experiences lead to the stories we tell.
I look forward to writing that story.