Miscasted

A business friend of mine was by yesterday and gave me further news of the stormy weekend here in Southern Oregon. Seems he was all geared up for a guided Salmon fishing trip on the mighty Rogue River, when the big light show rolled in. A rather prim and gentlemanly fellow, he has never struck me as the type who enjoys spending his free time casting for underwater treasures. More of a GQ sharply dressed man, who likes fast cars and a lively nightlife over neoprene waders and the smell of sun hardened Salmon Roe! Which of course makes me wonder what he is doing in sleepy Southern Oregon??!!

Nonetheless, I am an opened minded sort and pressed him further about his trip.

He mentioned some of his co-workers had coercised him into joining them for the day, chasing Spring Chinook Salmon, and enjoying the sights and sounds of the river. As I suspected, he voiced his displeasure of getting all smelly and dirty as well as having to do any of the mundane tasks--such as bait hooks, sit still, and reel in forty pound fish. He also worried he would be bored spending the day on the river.

Poor fellow.

He too is open minded, so he agreed to join them, but only after his co-workers assured him the guide would pretty much do EVERYTHING except the reeling in of the forty pound fish.(which I am sure the guide would do if asked to!!)

Like everyone else within a 100 mile radius of Medford he spent most of Friday evening and the wee hours of Saturday morning, trying to get to sleep to the soothing sounds of giant bowling bowls rattling across the skies. He said he was supposed to be up at 5 a.m. in the morning--which was no problem since most folks pulled an all nighter counting lightning bolts.By 3 a.m. he was convinced he wanted no part of sitting in an aluminum drift boat, holding a graphite lightning rod skyward while sitting in one of the most dangerous places to be in such an event. He didn't want to be the one to make the first call to bow out-- so he planned to bring his Sony walkman, hunker down and go along for the ride--and perhaps help administer CPR should the need arise.

To his relief, he got the call about 4:15--there would be no Salmon trip that morning, the guide had called it off -- to dangerous.

He expressed his joy over this and when I asked what he got to do instead--he said "Oh, a little shopping, went to a movie, sat around the house--nothing special."



Yes, fishing is not for everyone--not when we can drive fast cars to the mall--sit and watch yet another "action thriller", and really live life on the edge shopping for new mini-blinds....

Boredom indeed!!