The Bus and I decided to test the water at Lake Berryessa. A little early for us but the urge to wet a line after a couple of months without fishing said "GO!" My expectations matched my skill level at catching cold weather bass, petty low. But my man George took me to school and showed me how to locate them, and how to finesse fish for them. Result? Best day of cold water fishing in my life! We caught over 20 bass (trifecta: spots, smallies, largies) and lost 3-5 at the boat. We both caught a 5 lb smallie! Best 5? 21 to 22 lbs! Beautiful day fishing with a great friend! First trip of 2024 and retirement bodes well for fishing the rest of the year!

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs,
"I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car - NOW!"

The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then
she realized why. It was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, a frisbee, and two
12-packs of beer in the front seat. A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into her own car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a carjacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

Moral of the story? If you're going to have a senior moment...make it memorable

This past week my kidney specialist, when asked my possible life expectancy, said it was two years. Now while this estimate is not concrete, it is probably a good estimate, and could even be shorter! Now remember i am already 89 years old.

So, what would you do if you were in my place? I am open to any ideas. Bear in mind that I have already visited all the foreign countries I ever wanted to visit. Brazil, Canada, Costa Rico, China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Thailand, Venezuela, and possibly others I have lost track. The other places I would have like to have visited but didn’t were Egypt, Australia, and Portugal. I have flown over Greenland on a return trip from Scotland.

In addition, I have already caught all the fish I wanted to catch, Marlin 179 lbs, Snook 12 lbs, Tarpon 60 lbs, Peacock Bass 19 lbs, and Black Bass 9 lbs. None of these were world record but were big enough to satisfy my desire to catch and land them. As far as Alligator Gar, I have caught and landed a large number but nothing over 15 lbs.

So, I suggest you create your own list. You will achieve more if you create a list. Think about the things and places you want to visit. If you had only two years left, you probably would not have time to visit them all or catch all the fish you have targeted. That’s o.k., ambitious plans will get more done than if you had not planned to accomplish. All the destinations and fish I caught were over a much longer period. You will accomplish more by planning, than just hit or miss!

Remember, you will probably get old and feeble a long time before you accomplish your goals, but having ambitious plans will get you further than not having a plan at all.

Just so you know, I intend to beat the two-year guestimate of my doctor. I hope you do the same. We all have just one life, so make the most of it. God Bless you, one and all! Just Sayin…RJS