Unfortunately, the reality of time flying is not so funny. We wake up in the morning to start our day and realize the clock is already ticking. It doesn’t stop for us to take a break, to be sick, or to catch up on any one thing we are trying to accomplish. It just keeps ticking away and sometimes we feel as if the days run together.
That’s what I have been dealing with over the last few months. I put an end to one task only to find out there are multiple others, some old and some new, still waiting to be taken care of.
Unfortunately, the last time I was able to write anything was just before the WBT Championship tournament in October 2008. I was able to share with you that I had qualified to fish, and then time began to fly. The days were filled with taking care of arrangements for the trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas to fish Lake Hamilton. There were deadlines to meet, paperwork to fill out, and a lake to research. It created excitement as well as apprehension.
Yes, I’ll admit it did create a bit of added stress. It was mostly preparation that happens with any tournament but this was the Championship. So you surely understand how time was of the essence – at least in my mind. I wanted everything else to stop or at least slow down, but it didn’t and probably never will. I don’t share this with you to get your sympathy but to simply share with you how my post season began.
I arranged to travel to Arkansas with a good friend who is also one of my competitors. We would go over and get settled into our rooms, get to know the area, and be rested when everything began. My family would then arrive on our practice day and be there with me the remainder of the week.
Our week began with registration, a draw for practice, a reception, and the semi-sleepless night before our official practice day. It was set up for us to fish the first day of the tournament with our practice partner which gave us time to get to know each other and come up with a plan. There were only 20 boats so we didn’t have to deal with a long wait to launch or take out.
We were treated wonderfully by the locals, which included a ladies’ bass club who fixed us a sack lunch each day and made sure we had anything we needed. My thanks go to everybody for such kindness.
I just have to say this. I had finally made it to the Championship! When we launched for practice I began to realize the hard work that I had put into this season. I work hard every season but this time I had reached my goal.
My partner already had her spots picked out. The initial plan was to stay out for the morning without sticking any fish. But then she told me we were going to try to stick a few to build our confidence for the upcoming competition. We did get a few bites and left the lake soon after lunch knowing that we could catch fish at Lake Hamilton.
My family arrived safely and I was about to fish three days with and against the best of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. To meet this goal was a privilege, a reward, and a blessing.
