Revisiting Amazing People

shelleyw — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 04:22:25 +0000

A little over a year ago, I had the pleasure of floating the Green River by Flaming Gorge with Charlie Card, a member of the TU staff in Utah.

I met Charlie at the first Fly-Fishing Show I attended and he agreed to take me out in his beautiful boat. We had a spectacular day in spite of the 20-25 mph winds, with which we all must become comfortable. I haven’t seen Charlie for almost two years but I have watched his young daughter grown up on Facebook and know that when I see him again, it will seem like we’re old high school friends.

Compromising

shelleyw — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 04:11:31 +0000

+ The Animas is my backyard!

Δ Working long days.

Who Woulda Thunk?

shelleyw — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 03:59:43 +0000

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.

December 2014 – The 52 Rivers Blog

Revisiting Amazing People

Compromising

Who Woulda Thunk?