[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

“Huntin’ and fishin’” is a term which is guaranteed to create an image. What was the first thing that came into your mind’s eye?  Three separate events this week brings us to this unusual topic.

Tell me about your response and I can tell you a great deal about your culture, philosophy, and religion. Besides being on the front of a relationship with nature, the term is a metaphor for how people live and relate.

Yesterday I heard a statement that reflects a common misunderstanding. “Well, we should not be talking about politics, but focus on God (or other pious idea).” As we will find, that attitude is precisely what let the culture decay to its present state. If the religious are not involved in politics, who is left? What do you get?

Religion and philosophy are inseparable. Philosophy determines politics. Government solves all problems for liberals while personal responsibility defines true conservative. These same philosophical concepts relate to religion. The question is whether a person has responsibility or diffuses that duty to a larger government or religious entity.

Event number one is a book I read on a true hero, General Chuck Yeager and “101 Chuck Yeager-isms.” A down-to-earth guy, he was the greatest pilot to ever drive airplanes, advancing from the rank of private to General without going to college. Why my intrigue? I was an Air Force Captain at a detachment of Edwards AFB while he was still active.

He was the character behind “The Right Stuff” movie and part of the background for “I Dream of Jeannie” television series. He had a twinkling smile from his youth, a wry wit, and drew more admiration and accolades than the politicians who wanted to associate with him. He defined a man’s man and is an icon of ‘toxic masculinity.’

What was this gentleman’s man relief from his extreme stress world? Unlike many high-profile careers who play golf, he would escape to the High Sierras, West Virginia, or other remote spaces for hunting and fishing.

His retort was “I’m not old enough to play golf and I never will be.” He advocated “Practice your retirement before you retire.” After his military retirement, he flew twenty more years as an Air Force contractor. While many who retire from a high-position job expire shortly afterward, General Yeager lived to almost 98. The namesake of his famous aircraft, ‘Glamorous Glennis’, passed at 67. Thirteen years later, he re-married to a lady 35-years his junior, whom he had met on a hiking trail. He taught her how to fly, hunt, fish, and live life. She kept him young.

Event number two is one of our 13-year-old grandsons. He is an avid fisherman and caught some of his largest fish this week, in a couple of our ponds. Like Yeager, he has a similar disarming smile and wry wit. After my commenting to him about his humor, he observed it sometimes gets him in trouble. This let me remark to never lose that gift and quick wit.

His great-grandfather, my co-author’s dad, had a similar quick wit and was an avid fisherman, who lived to ninety. Our grandson’s dad was a professional, international fishing guide before returning to university and becoming a superb scientific analyst, who spends much of his time out of doors managing the ranch. He too has that twinkling mischievous grin and wit.

The third event is a group of ham radio operators who met at the ranch for a little technical work discussing electro-magnetic radiation, measuring the effects of their cell-phones, and some fun family time. One of the guests competed with our grandson in size of fish, which evoked her grin from ear-to-ear.

Another event is one of our regular pond-guests. He is a 35-year friend from both our early flying days, who retired as an American Airlines international pilot, flying jumbo jets with hundreds of souls aboard.

Now about that image that came in your mind’s eye?

First, are you a fisher, hunter, or outdoors nature person? If not, your perception of “huntin’ and fishin’” will obviously be different. Let me share them with you.

To city-dwellers, the avocation evokes ideas of back-woodsy, a little non-social, not quite to the top of the game. Our illustrations obviously burst that myth. Communing, surviving, and thriving with nature is real.

Breathe some tree-air. Clear your mind. See God’s nature to better understand the Creator. Then you see that nature cleanses all transgressions and reclaims for itself. Trees clear pollution. Trees reclaim cow expulsions and human generated carbon dioxide to provide us with fresh, clean air. It is awesome.

Think about those that appreciate and participate in nature better relate to living and dying. Think about their philosophy is more self-sufficient. Their religion tends to see a real God being active in the real world. Do a little “huntin’ and fishin’”. Get out to nature. Get a cleaner, clearer mind. Get a longer, healthier life. To the grand life for which you were intended.

Send us your histories, stories, and traditions including memories or twists. We would like to bring them along.