After much soul searching and really being appreciative of the life I’ve had, I thought it would be a good time ask the question of... “what if?” With today’s article I’ll throw out a few scenarios as to what might have been “if” certain things had not happened in my life.
First, what if my real mom and dad would have stayed together and never divorced. For sure my brother (Mike Comer) and I would have grown up together and probably would have been lifelong buds who both shared a passion for sports and fishing. A brother who could have led the way for me and gave me direction. I would also have had a relationship with my real dad, who I never met, which is something every boy wants and needs.
What if my aunt and uncle never came to my rescue during my early struggles in school and life itself. I’m pretty sure I would have ended up in some juvenile detention center. At some point, I would have gotten caught sneaking into people’s houses, which over time, I’m sure would have lit my fuse for theft of items other than food.
What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant? I would have missed out on being raised on a ranch and the lessons I learned from that experience. I would have never met my best friend growing up, Kevin Owsley, who I still miss today. I would have missed out on some of the best coaches and teachers a young boy could ask for.
I would have missed out on all the camping trips to Daingerfield State Park with my buddy Kevin. I would have missed out on the awesome summers of playing baseball and going to Park Recreation with Coach Sam Parker.
What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant? I would have missed out on the best four years of my life at MPHS! What a great place to go to high school, a place with so much school spirit and pride, a school with the best sounding band from Tiger land and an athletic program second to none. So much I would have missed out on like being a member of a state championship baseball team.
What if I had chosen to go to a different college other than Northwestern State? Would I have met the love of my life and raised three awesome kids in a family-oriented community like Natchitoches? Would I have had the same success at another university? Would I have gotten the opportunity to play professional baseball?
What if I had never taken up tournament bass fishing? Well, with regards to this question….I would definitely have more money in the bank and I would have missed out on so many of the friends I’ve made through tournament fishing, friends for life and people I can count in a time of need!
What if I had never started the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show, which has become one of the best outdoor radio programs on radio. The people I have met through this program after 18 years is endless. The two co-hosts that I share a mic with each week, Mike Echols and Gary McCoy, have given me so much pleasure and happiness than any one man deserves.
Gary and Mike, with their whit, humor, and outdoor expertise, make it worth my drive to Shreveport each week. Love these two more than you can imagine! Hook’N Up & Track’N Down would not be the same without these two!
We can all “what if” our lives all we want, but what’s important is that we don’t look back at what might have been, but look forward and be proud of the life we have led.
So, I think it’s obvious my life has been full of joy, sadness, disappointment and success which I guess can be summed up as a journey. Everyone has a journey with some having more than their fair share of ups and downs, but that’s what life is all about, the journey. It’s like one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” That’s exactly what mine has been….a wonderful life!
Till next week, see you at the boat ramp! Good luck, good fishing and if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook! If you see me on a lake near you, make sure to stop and say hello.
