Lately I have been chatting with old high school friends that I have not seen or spoken to in ages. The convenience of all the new social networking sites on the web make this easy as seemingly anyone and everyone with computer seem to flock to these sites... including myself. I missed my 10 year reunion last September, which I had no idea about. I was told that some thought I had died in the war so efforts to contact me faded quickly. Understandable. But firstly these folks that know me should have known I was not going to be dying in any facet of combat. With my luck I'll die by a shark falling off the back of a truck going down the road and be attacked while the driver of said truck takes no notice. Aside, I seriously can't help but wonder what those fellow school mates think when they read about all this fishing I do. Really! Looking from the outside-in, it must seem like I'm some immature kid chasing a pipe dream. How could you not perceive it that way? Not speaking out of embarrassment, I have no shame in what I do and besides the fishing, I do have a full-time job. I just see all these guys (and gals) going to school full-time and trying to hold down a job in the same stature. Some run their own businesses with kids, husbands, wives.
I have these things too. But fishing? Are you serious? That is something people do if they get a little extra time on their hands in the real world. In my world its an act I commit 2 or even 3 times a week. Drop $20,000 on the fancy boat, thousands on gear, tournament entry fees, another couple Benji's on lures, plus travel. People see this and I honestly wonder what they think. Maybe nothing right? Maybe I'm being vein. Who has time to care about what I'm doing? But if that were the case, and everyone was so busy keeping their own lives in order. Then why do we inherently find the need to keep up with our Facebook pages and Twitter all the time?
It's the third paragraph and I still have not revealed my true motive in this entry so I will do so as elegantly as possible. I used the example of high school because it relates to all the childish jibber jabber that some people can't seem to keep to themselves. Then I mention Facebook and Twitter because people like to be sucked in by other people's lives. It's a story different from their own so naturally they are interested. Some seem to be interested in my life and like to know what has been going on and hold no opinion on the matter; they just care. But there are others that can't get enough. They push and prod and flap their gums to other "life watchers" about my fishing habits and the monetary issues that surround it. They form their judgmental opinions and like I said, they share it with others which just spreads like disease. People think its fun to say demeaning things behind other's backs and face to face act as though they are friends so they may maintain access to the real life drama. You know, because John and Kate Plus 8 just is not enough.
I am going to be nice here and not mention any names. These specific people know who they are and I know at least one of them reads on a regular basis (consider this your warning). I am sure you thought that your impressions would never reach my ears. And now you are saying "I don't care if he knows". Oh but you do, because you know I am PISSED. You need to focus more on your own life. Don't worry about my paper stacks and stop hating because I have fun fishing. I presume you think I have a cake walk and I assure you that is not the case. I have struggled hardships in my life just like most of us humans. I only have found my happy place and in stead of glaring at mine with hate and jealousy, go find yours and live in it.
