Boo-Boo and the Great Outdoors
© Reginald Vickers
Take for example, fishing. Some people say fishing is relaxing - it gives them time to think. I agree. It also gives me time to think- think about all the things that I could be doing instead of wasting my time fishing. I am not against fishing. I have even been fishing. My father and my brother use to torture me once or twice a year. Later, I found that they just took me along for comedy. You see I am always the one who catches a fish smaller than my lure. I am the one you see on "Funniest videos" with one foot on the dock and one in the boat when the boat just happens to move (yeah, right!). I am the one whose pole gets pulled into the water because I didn't have a tight enough grip on it. I am the one who puts the patch on my ear to keep me from getting seasick and missed all the action because I slept all the time (no one told me it makes you drowsy). Oh, yeah, I love the outdoors. I love spending time with my father and brother, but can't we just stay indoors and play yatzee?
I probably would be more into nature if it wasn't for the fact that we live in a brick tree house overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. There is nothing like coming home from a busy day and lying on the couch out on our screened-in porch. It is so peaceful and quiet. The only noise is chitter chatter of the birds that come up to the feeder. There, you can see forever. You can smell that springtime is in the air. You can even get a bad case of allergies without having to leave the house. Just being in God's creation - that's what it's all about.
Are you jealous yet? Maybe you're reading this from your townhouse or condo, where the air is stagnant. Or maybe when you open your front door to nature, you see a small strip of lawn that takes 2 minutes to mow each week. Maybe you have to keep your windows closed to block the noise of the cars that zoom up and down the highway. Maybe you're just trapped in the 12-hour-a-day rat race with a two-hour commute each way. If you are any of these people then maybe you do need that nature experience. Now if I were a nice guy, I would share my tranquility with you by inviting you to spend your vacation with me. But that would take the fun out of your great outdoor experiences. (But my parents did say you can come and stay with them at their little B&B in Burnsville, NC). So instead I'll do one better for you- I will give you some shopping advice to make your outdoor experience a little more delightful and enjoyable.
