(Reflection of Christopher Russo, Assistant Superintendent in Portland and Reynolds and currently the Director of the American School of Asuncion, Paraguay.)
Back when I lived in Turkey a colleague of mine (Mark) shared a book he had thought I would enjoy--a book that had had some influence on his life and in the end mine. He was an old Peace Corps volunteer who had done his tour in Eastern Europe, Hungary, married a local (Judith) and from that experience forever found himself with his family in journey of new places and cultures...
He and I both had a love (probably better labeled obsession) with fly fishing. We would speak for hours on the topic, mostly about the feeling or "meditative" state it would invoke. We would speak of the many beautiful landscapes complimented by the tales of "catching that big one. The above titled book in the header addresses that reflective piece we would discuss and frames it within a context that is truly North American and specific of the desire of the fisherman (or maybe really just human beings) who seek some sort of inner peace and can experience it/perhaps find it by being in nature.
Zig Zag Creek Mt. Hood
These days with being quarantined in the house in the middle of South America (week 5 now), I find my mind meandering to the many out of the way spots, some so fantastically remote and unique, where I have applied the rod. I always find myself smiling while caught up in the reflection...
Mendoza, Argentina
I have rappelled into river carved canyons in the high desert, hiked primeval trails along riversides in the Pacific Northwest rain forests, and fished the rapids while riding the Deschuttes--not to mention there have been many countless rivers around the world I have found in deeply hidden, previously unknown river territory.
And you know it's not so much for the fish, though that is definitely a prize at the end of the day, but more in search for that "space" where running river water keeps the mind empty yet fresh and clean.
Deschuttes Canyon... (Crooked River)
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