Thoughts at 50

Today, I get to be 50.

Since taking up writing I have made a tradition out of a birthday posting starting back in 2011 with something entitled “Thoughts at 44.” My blogging gigs dating back to 2011 before starting my own website this year were entitled “Meandering.”  Gave me some leeway I figured, should I wander…Here we go again.

I can still row a boat as good as anybody around, probably could even find my hotspots on a few of my fishing holes while rowing with my eyes closed.

Probably could tie an improved clinch knot with my eyes closed too, which isn’t much of a stretch these days as I’m starting to experience some technical difficulty hitting the eyes on lures.

Baseball still rules, been older than all the players for a while, now older than half a dozen managers.

Still digging introducing our kids to the wonders of the outdoors before they get “too big” to hang out.

Dig being the kid too, getting to fish with Dad and add some more fish stories to an already impressive list.

On July 23, 1967, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was early in a fifteen week run at number one on the album chart.  On July 23, 2017 the spot was held by DJ Khaled, whoever that is.  Nope, further reinforces why I rarely listen to anything on the radio from this century.

I used to view “fishing” solely in terms of “catching” but have come to realize that there’s a lot more to the experience.

An added bonus of taking kids fishing is that they typically make you feel smarter than you really are.

These days I’m glad that nobody has captured Bigfoot.  It would ruin all the fun.

The oldies station is playing stuff I used to watch when MTV played music videos.

Kinda weird but I’m starting to realize that I make involuntary noises like grunts and stuff when performing some rather rudimentary tasks while fishing.  Not positive, or perhaps not ready to admit, but suspect the body is feeling 50 on occasion.

Did you know that if you took away all of Hank Aaron’s home runs he would still have over 3,000 hits?  Simply amazing, one of my all-time favorites and still the home run king in my book.

In a world of glitz, glamour, gimmicks and internet shopping, you still can’t beat a good old baitshop.  Never know what you may find and the best ones just have that smell.

At 50 I don’t think my beard will give the boys from ZZ Top a run for their money.  My eyebrows and ears on occasion, however…

Speaking of that band, anybody know the last name of their mustachioed drummer?  Always found that kind of amusing.

If you don’t fish a Senko wacky rig, you should.

Cubs were World Series champs before I hit 50, pretty impressive, all things considered.

I’ve accepted the fact that our camping cooler contains more juice boxes than Old Mil Lights and that I will also feel much better in the morning because of it.

Why is beef jerky so expensive?  I like Sasquatch and all, but whatever they’re paying him is too much.

Transformers and TMNT inhabit my home decades after their original incarnations.  I’m thinking we also need to bring back Championship Fishing (complete with the aquarium demonstrations and theme song), Solid Gold (with the dancers) and The Midnight Special (with a digitally remastered Wolfman Jack).

 

While grocery shopping for a camping trip last week, our six year old, Zac, randomly says, “Dad, you know, you look like a ‘Papa.’”  Wait ‘til graduation, little buddy, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Saw some swimbaits recently ranging from about $40 up to $120 per bait.  Takes me back to the advent of those fancy (and expensive) basketball shoes that weren’t going to help me dunk.  Nope, I’ll be sticking with the Chuck Taylors of fishing lures.

I imagine I was more excited landing my 2017 Top Bass of 6-2 at 49 than I would have been at 17 and that’s cool. Of course, I say “imagine” because I never could fool one that size back when I was a novice.

Considered going for 50 thoughts but think we’ve all had enough.

Had an early celebration yesterday with my family, my folks, my brother, sister-in-law, sister, two nieces and two nephews, good stuff and thanks to all for hanging out and making it a special day.  Also got a new toy to help make outdoor outings a little more hip and entertaining, maybe…Gonna try it out as I celebrate with some bass this morning before most all of those folks are even out of bed.  Talk to you later.  Troy

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