Thanksgiving Ruminations

Slowly settling back into life in Vermont (in all honesty, not really… the adventure bug is still alive and quite well.) We had our first snowstorm of the year yesterday and through last night; somehow it felt ironic to be hunkered down editing thousands of images of tropical Belize while it was snowing and inch or two an hour outside.

That got me thinking. A year ago today, I was spending Thanksgiving in the Seattle area. Left at 4am the next morning, beginning the three-day drive to Austin. Upon arrival in Austin, I spent two very quick days before flying up to Vermont to interview with Orvis, having no idea what to expect but figuring there was nothing to lose.

https://sieterevueltas.net/cqdlzhbi3 Ironic.

https://fireheartmusic.com/nad8e7x It’s been a crazy year, though in a different way from the pattern of the past four or five. Historically, it’s been a jumble of three or four moves a year, new locations, new projects, new adventures. This year it’s been all save the first: I’ve been in Vermont for nearly eleven months, which is somewhat of a personal record in recent years. Orvis has given me some great opportunities for travel, something that makes staying in one place tenable.

Cheap Xanax It’s been a year of new friends. From the gang at Orvis to the friends I made last week in Belize—many of whom I know I’ll see again, someplace, somehow—to the myriad of people in between, there has been no shortage of new acquaintances. And I love it.

https://therepairstore.ca/wskqqyww6lh It’s also been a year of new fish and fisheries. I’ve strayed from my comfortable zone of Western trout and dipped a toe into the northeastern striper world, the bass realm, the kingdom of small stream native brookie fishing, and, most notably, the world of saltwater flats fishing. The latter is hands-down my favorite.

https://equinlab.com/2024/01/18/tnf2836el09 It’s also been a hella year for Fire Girl Photography. This has been the busiest year yet—huge thanks to all who have made it so. Without my editors and publishers, random people who let me take photographs and interview them, and the pile of notepads (both digital and paper) that accommodate weird, random ideas at all hours of the day and night, it wouldn’t be possible. Next year looks to be even busier—some pretty fun pieces rolling out in January—and I can’t wait to see what comes around the corner.

https://www.ngoc.org.uk/uncategorized/future-events/k9u24xmz So, yeah, quite a bit to be thankful for this year. But, maybe most of all as I sit here typing this, warming my hands in front of the space heater and around a mug of hot tea, I’m thankful for something I discovered last week.

https://serenityspaonline.com/qqdxbtp It’s been, er, interesting learning to balance a writing day job—especially in a corporate environment—with full-time freelance work. The corporate world is a give and take, and more often that not I miss the aggressive “why” of a small-business mindset. People taking pride in their work, willing to take risks and having a damn fun time getting the job done. Last week on assignment in Belize, I was figuratively beaten over the head several times with my own “why.” Why bother doing this? Writing? Photography? Because it’s fun. Because it’s hard. Because I have to think on my feet and act on intuition. Because things could go wrong if I don’t. And because that in of itself is pretty damn addictive.

Buying Diazepam 2Mg And because, maybe, that’s what it’s all about.

So, at the end of this long harangue, I’m thankful for adventure. For exploration. And for the chance to do what I love.

Tags: Fire Girl Photography

Tagged as: Belize, El Pescador, Orvis, Thanksgiving, travel