Just three years ago – in 2012 – I visited the Denver Fly-fishing show to try to make connections for my 52 rivers journey that I would embark on in 2013. I arrived at the show not knowing a single person and ended up at the International Federation of Fly Fisher’s booth where I made my first contact. From that point forward, it was history. I befriended Pat and Carol Oglesby who sent me forth with a contact list a mile long.
A year ago I became acquainted with the likes of Joe Sowerby from Montana Flyfishing Connection who took my husband and me down the Smith River in Montana on a five-day excursion along with six other folks.
Here I am in 2015, not only attending the show, but giving a presentation about my journey and sitting in the author’s booth on Saturday and Sunday to talk about my book and join the exciting world of authors. Really, who would thunk?
It’s been such an amazing journey the last three years – from planning to executing to producing. I still have plans to haunt the rivers and waters of our world, but I’ve been lured into working in the wonderful world of libraries once again. Pine River Library in rural Bayfield, CO, is a special place and thus I am happy to be there, but I still plan on returning to my life with a rod on a river.
Here’s a quote that my friend, Louise Richey sent me a few years back that has great meaning for me:
Throughout your life, there is a voice only you can hear. A voice which mythologists label “the call.” A call to the value of your life. The choice of risk and individual bliss over the known and secure.
You may choose not to hear your spirit. You may prefer to build a life within the compound, to avoid risk. It is possible to find happiness within a familiar box, a life of comfort and control.
Or, you may choose to be open to new experiences, to leave the limits of your conditioning, to hear the call. Then you must act.
If you never hear it, perhaps nothing is lost. If you hear it and ignore it, your life is lost.
—Jennifer James
I heard it and followed it.
