CCJC Audio Podcast - Episode #00077, Season 2
The Florida sun was doing its best to bake me alive as I stood beside the crystal-clear waters of one of my favorite Central Florida’s quiet bass lakes. The kind mostly only locals know about. Catch and release of bass wasn’t just a hobby, it was my go-to-therapy. The rhythmic casts, the gentle flow of water, the hopeful tug, that’s what I needed.
That all calmed the swirling chaos of my brain. I was feeling particularly optimistic. The water was opaque enough to see insects dancing. I just knew a fat largemouth bass was waiting for my expertly tied braided line Booyah Pad Crasher Poppers.
Hours passed in that blissful state of focused relaxation as I mentally planned my next twist in a plot on a novella I was writing. I had a few nibbles on the line, landed a couple of respectable Bluegill, but the elusive bass remained . . . well, elusive. Then Wham! The line went taut. This was it!
This had the weight and the fight. My heart pounded as I expertly played the baitcasting reel. I could already picture the shimmering scales and the satisfying weight of my prize.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I had it reeled in close. A magnificent . . . green blob? Squinting through my polarized sunglasses, I could make out a weird shape. Not the sleek silhouette of a bass. Not even a hint of an aggressive Alligator Gar. Nope. Dangling forlornly from my perfectly rigged lure, glinting in the afternoon sun, was my key ring. My entire set, including the fancy Apple Air Tag Holder and a leaping fish charm that was gifted to me.
I stared, dumbfounded, then debated if I wanted to cry or burst out laughing. Of course this would happen. Life, in its infinite wisdom, decided my biggest catch of the day wasn’t a prized trophy bass, but the very things I needed to get home and inside.
It felt like a cruel cosmic joke, a salty splash of reality interrupting my peaceful escape. I reeled in my unexpectedly burdened line. The weight of the push button smart key fob was a poor substitute for the heft of a lunker.
It would be several hours later before I could get a family member to bring my spare keys. Thank goodness I knew enough to understand not to short circuit my car by pressing any buttons, removing the battery and drying it out for 24-48 hours, and dry the rest of it out thoroughly.
Wallet spoiler alert if you have a Smart Key Fob for your car – it can cost $150 to $350 to replace one if it becomes water damaged.
The Unexpected Hook
Today, I can laugh about that bizarre incident. While initially chaotic and slightly funny, the event stuck with me. It was a ridiculous, tangible representation of how often life throws us curveballs. We set out with a specific goal, a clear intention, like landing a beautiful trophy bass – only to find ourselves tangled up with something completely unexpected.
Those moments perhaps when we have misplaced ourselves along our life path and have to scramble to solve real problems. Like when searching for that perfect career you never knew existed, or stumbling upon a passion you never considered, or looking for romantic love and finding a profound friendship instead.
The Art Of Untangling
The truth is, we often get caught up in the what we expect to catch, the specific outcome we desire. But life, like a meandering overflowing creek, has its own currents and hidden snags. Sometimes the biggest lessons, the most significant shifts, come from the unexpected things we reel in. It might be frustrating, cost our wallets, or even be comical to find your car keys on the end of your fishing pole. But what matters most is what you do about it.
You untangle. You carefully removed the unexpected baggage from your line, just as you would a snagged branch or an unwanted piece of debris. It might take patience, a steady hand, and a good dose of perspective. You might even have to reassess your approach, change your bait, or find a new spot on the waters of life.
But ultimately, the act of untangling allows you to cast your line again, wiser, and perhaps with a broader understanding of what the water and life might hold. The next time you find your “car keys” instead of your “trophy fish,” take a breath, have a laugh, or a good cry, then focus on getting to the untangling. The next cast in life might just surprise you in a whole new, wonderful way.
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