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

The article on “Huntin’ and fishin’” did strike a chord. We received this humorous personal story from a long-time reader.

“This is my share from a tender time fishing with Mom and Dad. Mom did not go fishing with us because she could not get in/out of the boat. One of the last times we fished I figured out how to get her in the boat. (Dad was 93, Mom 85 and I was 64).

Dad had a Ford F-150 pick-up that rode better than any bucks-mobile I have ever been in. We pushed Mom into the cab and off we went to Big Creek, close to Nowata.

I pulled the boat as close to a picnic table as Dad and I could get it. We got Mom on the picnic table seat, then table top and pushed and pulled ’til we had her in the boat as it was the same height as the tabletop. Then, Dad and I got the boat in the water and off we went!

I do not remember anything else caught that day except Mom’s “Wonder Fish!” (Wonder if it was big enough to be a keeper!) The three of us were so happy she caught one! I took a picture of her kissing her fish like Jimmy Houston used to do on his fishing show, and we celebrated, then put fishy back to grow bigger for someone’s dinner table!

It was just the sweetest, ‘bestest’ (sic) most magical moment in time with the three of us! God sure lifted us up! Mom has long had neuropathy in her legs, so that was so very special and even more so with Father’s Day recently as Dad is no longer on earth with us. Thanks for the opportunity to share and Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads and Grandpa’s out there!”

The story further confirms what we saw in the first fishing and hunting article. The value is not in the activity, but the people who are involved. I am not sure how the theology works out, but some version of fishing-activity will undoubtedly be available down the lane that turns right, off the street of gold. That will surely make my grandson and many Oklahomans happy.

If nature is the environment where we are closest to the Creator, and it is, then perhaps our perception of the after-life may need readjusting. I will request my theology doctoral adviser to consider adding a course on ‘God, Nature, and Fishing.’ It would certainly be popular.

Speaking of nature, our weather showed its power and influence a few days ago. At 12:23 AM, winds were at 100 mph. How do I know with such precision? That is when the lights went out, the clocks stopped, and Alan had just declared the windspeed on his all-night weather coverage.

With no electricity, it becomes really quiet. The day before, we had our annual physical and the doctor was suggesting reducing the electro-magnetic field (EMF) influence by turning off Wi-Fi at night and other ideas.

This is valid. I was one of the early researchers in the 1990s. There was a reason little EMF data exists since then.  But I really did not want to experience the quietness and simplicity of life to that extent.

Two days later, we are still without power. OGE said they may be able to give us a forecast tomorrow – not restoration but forecast.

So, we kicked on the generator and life goes on. Do you recall years ago no one had a generator? Why? The lights seldom went out. The frequency and length of outages are increasing, not getting better. Our last major wind outage was 5-days. What does that say about our infrastructure? It is not good.

Now we live in a conundrum. We like nature, we need nature for restoration, but we like the benefits of electricity. Which wins? Nature gets pushed further back and with it our health and mental health.

Think about our relationship to nature and nature’s God. Have we created a perception of life that needs adjusting? Are we willing to sacrifice long-term health for short-term pleasure? Our lifestyle, eating habits, and physical health says yes. Think about who can change that. 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.