On and Off Pause

 Funny how life brings twist and turns. The last 24 months have been on pause, but eventually the pause button becomes unstuck. For the sake of creativity one can't be permanently in a state of suspended animation. After all even the trout sitting and resting on the bottom of that stream are moving. Mouths slowly opening and closing filtering out debris and food bits, while expending no energy.

Thus life continues and passions flare into new actions. Lately I've been watching two bald eagles sitting on the peak of an apartment building. Yes, not a tall craggy pine and not in Alaska or Montana but Lakewood Ranch. A breeding pair looking regal despite the suburban background. So my point is this wilderness is where you find it. The eagle has been a comeback due to the Endangered Species Act. The banning of DDT, which had thinned the shells of their eggs helped contribute to my daily pleasure of watching this pair hanging out in my hood. 

A trip to the bay usually brings more than a glimpse of bottle nose dolphins, manatees, tarpon and barracuda.  If man were to disappear nature, wouldn't miss us. The alligators lazily sunning themselves, warming themselves on those cool Florida winter days. The hawk that visited my patio the other day, let me know he was in charge not I. Traffic rolling by fueled by the return of that elusive species, the snow birds. They are denoted by the blue hair dye, handbag leather skin and crowding all the early bird specials. Soon they will crowd the beaches and chase all the snook and triple tails out of the surf. The off gassing of sunscreen will change the ecosystem of the Gulf and maybe by spring a healthy dose of red tide and the coating of dead oxygen deprived fish lining the shoreline. 

As my old friends trudge out for the Saturday fly tying sessions, I do miss those after sessions at the Roast. I believe an unintended consequence and maybe the pandemic put that cozy spot out of business. I can sometimes hear the conversations arguing about hook size or materials, patterns bandy about, over cups of hot coffee. A morning well spent.

I will be up north sometime this year, close to a trout stream, a 1/2 hours driving distance away. My plan is to get out west, not sure where. But getting out and find some creative space to breathe and recharge my soul.

Tight lines,