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Trout Bums at Large is a monthly column appearing in the Yakima Herald-Republic and the Seattle Times. The column is written by Randal Sumner and Mark Littleton. We will be keeping an archive of these articles on this page.
What me Worry?
by Mark Littlton
11/01/2004
Fifty is closing in on me like a freight train. I’m not saying that I am having a mid-life crisis or anything, because I am not the type to dwell on it, but a milestone like this makes you reflect a little bit about your life and where you are at in it.
When I was younger, I had a family to raise and support. My career path wasn’t yet settled and it was a lot more important to stay focused on work and family. I was in the striving mode, striving for the next job or the next raise. At one time I was working at a big insurance company, helping my wife (who also worked) raise two small kids, and going to school at night. Later, running the kids around to sports and lessons left little time for leisure activities.
Now that my kids are all grown up – maybe not completely independent- but getting close, the time has come that I can spend more of my time focused on the things that I enjoy. I also now own my own business so my boss is pretty understanding if I want to take some time off. This is the up side to getting older. There is a down side too; fishing, the way I do it, can be physically demanding, not like running a marathon, but you have to be able to scramble up and down steep river banks, wade on big slippery rocks in heavy current and row a boat (when you can’t get somebody else to row while you fish).
Sometimes I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to do these things, ten years?, fifteen?, twenty at the most (that is if I live that long). There was a time when twenty years seemed like an eternity, now it doesn’t seem like such a long time at all. What will I do then? I used to think of myself as a tough guy, the “man of steel”. Just in the last few years though, I am finding that some of the old parts are not working so well. I guess even steel wears out.
Over the years two of my closest friends died at a young age, one at 35 and the other at 44. One of my fishing buddies had a stroke last week. Things like this are enough to make even a non-introspective type like me start to ponder a little bit. No one likes to contemplate their own mortality, but every once in a while events force you to at least acknowledge it.
There is no guarantee that anyone will make to next week, let alone ten years from now.
The plain truth is that you never know when your number is going to be up. I don’t think I’ll ever find the meaning of life (if I do you can read all about it right here). The best I can come up with is that life is short fish when you can and enjoy it while it lasts.
More Trout Bum Articles:
01/26/2010: Redfish Round-up by Randal Sumner
11/24/2009: Kentucky Don and English Bob by Randal Sumner
08/25/2009: A word about Bears by R.Sumner
06/30/2009: Polar bear hugging by Randal Sumner
01/27/2009: Christmas letters by Randal Sumner
11/25/2008: Trip to Eden by Randal Sumner
08/07/2008: Mime Time by R. Sumner
06/02/2008: fuel vs fishing by R. Sumner
05/01/2008: Long sleeve Hawiian shirt by R.Sumner
02/07/2008: The Empire by R. Sumner
11/29/2007: Troutbum self-help by R. Sumner
09/04/2007: The Perfect Client by Randal Sumner
07/02/2007: High Anxiety by R.Sumner
03/29/2007: Grasshopper by Randal Sumner
01/25/2007: Chinese food by R. Sumner
11/30/2006: Old Whitey by R.Sumner
09/28/2006: Chief Holland USN retired by R. Sumner
07/10/2006: BBQ by R.Sumner
05/30/2006: Cashmere by R. sumner
03/30/2006: Sterling Choices by Randal Sumner
01/26/2006: Tying with Pablo by Randal Sumner
12/01/2005: Brrr by Mark Littleton
11/24/2005: Thanksgiving 2005 by randal Sumner
09/01/2005: Anchors Away by Mark Littleton
07/01/2005: Some kinda fun by Randal Sumner
05/01/2005: The Base Lake by Randal Sumner
04/01/2005: Humble Pie by Mark Littleton
03/01/2005: Dance monkey dance by randal Sumner
01/01/2005: Where are the Instructions? by Randal Sumner
12/01/2004: Das Boat by Mark Littleton
10/01/2004: Priorities by Mark Littlton
09/01/2004: Falling In by Mark Littleton
08/01/2004: Ice Fishing by Randal Sumner
07/01/2004: Honey, I flooded the basement by Randal Sumner
07/01/2004: Elvis Lives by Randal Sumner
06/01/2004: Coyote by Randal Sumner
05/01/2004: Redfish and Capt. Dan by Mark Littleton
04/01/2004: Vested Interest by Randal Sumner
03/01/2004: Are you a Troutbum? by Mark Littleton
12/01/2003: Christmas presents by Mark Littleton
11/01/2003: Oklahoma by Randal Sumner
10/01/2003: Steel heading JuJu by Randal Sumner
09/01/2003: Motor Home by Randal Sumner
08/01/2003: Life is Funny by Mark Littlton
07/01/2003: Deschutes by Mark Littleton
06/01/2003: Class of 2002 by Randal Sumner
05/01/2003: BOAT FISHING by Mark Littlton
04/01/2003: ALASKA, LAND OF THE MIDNIGHTBLUE TARP by Randal Sumner
03/01/2003: MARCH BROWNS by Mark Littleton
02/01/2003: DEEP IN THE HEART OF IDAHO by Randal Sumner
01/01/2003: TOP TEN by Mark Littleton
12/01/2002: SAN MIGUEL by Randal Sumner
11/01/2002: DISNEYLAND by Randal Sumner
10/01/2002: CAMPING by Mark Littleton
09/01/2002: MMMM MAYFLIES by Mark Littleton
08/01/2002: CARNEGIE HALL by Randal Sumner
07/01/2002: CRAWFISH PIE by Randal Sumner
06/01/2002: Sons and Pals by Mark Littleton
03/01/2002: Visitation by Randal Sumner
02/01/2002: Ouch by Mark Littleton
01/01/2002: Death by Randal Sumner
11/01/2001: Leakers by Randal Sumner
09/01/2001: Poser by Randal Sumner
08/01/2001: Snake River Diary by Mark Littleton
08/01/2001: It's Hard by Mark Littleton
07/01/2001: Etiqutte by Randal Sumner
06/01/2001: June by Mark Littleton
05/01/2001: Road Trip to Paradise by Randal Sumner
04/01/2001: What Are They Doing Up There? by Mark Littleton
03/01/2001: Gear by Randal Sumner
02/01/2001: Soft Hackles by Mark Littleton
01/25/2001: Motivation by Randal Sumner
12/28/2000: Winter Fishing by Mark Littleton
11/30/2000: Old Blackie by Randal Sumner
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