Have you ever fielded the question, “how did you guys meet?” I have. Often. 🙂

 

In 2006, I was asked to take a one-year rotational role in Raleigh, NC to facilitate a sales class called “Sales Masters”. In November of 2007 I had fulfilled my obligation but was asked to do one last class as my replacement had not been identified. I begrudgingly agreed…and as God has a way of doing things in my life…he smiled down on me and made it amazingly worthwhile.

 

On the Sunday afternoon flight from Tampa to Raleigh that week, I distinctly remember having a pep talk with myself. This was my last class, but they deserved no less energy, passion and enthusiasm that all the classes from the previous 12 months had seen from me. As I always did, on that Monday morning, I introduced myself to every student as they came in the class. One young lady stood out immediately with fire engine red hair and a distinct southern drawl…”HI! My name in Nancy!”. Right behind Nancy was her best friend. In a much less excited tone, “Hi, I’m Jenni”. I believe she might have even asked if she could “test out” and go home. I was immediately struck by how beautiful her eyes were…and I struggled to not smile too wide. Since Nancy and Jenni were the last 2 to arrive (something about a birthday celebration the night before) there was only one seat up front and one seat in the back. As I had promised myself, I tried to crank the intensity meter up that morning. One of the most powerful public speaking tips I ever borrowed from John Chambers (former Cisco CEO) was his piercing eye contact. That morning I made certain I connected with every student in the room. I would later learn that Jenni and Nancy were texting each other with a hilarious “this instructor is checking ME out!” Apparently the eye contact worked! <grin>

 

Our classes in Raleigh were a week long. As our week progressed, we were able to spend time in conversation away from work. Being curious as I am, I wanted to know what Jenni did for fun away from work. The conversation went something like this:

 

Me: What do you do for fun away from work?

Jenni: What do you mean?

Me: Well, do you work out?

Jenni: No.

Me: Do you run?

Jenni: No.

Me: Do you play golf?

Jenni: I have a set of golf clubs!

(My Spidey senses were telling me that was also a NO!)

Jenni: I love to FISH!

Long…pause…from…me.

Me: Fish?! Where do you fish in Cleveland Ohio???

Jenni: Well, we have this little lake…it’s called Lake Erie. Maybe you have heard of it?

(At that moment I was very tempted to say “Will you marry me?” but I refrained)

 

As we left Raleigh that week, we promised to stay in touch. Long distance relationships are tough. It takes commitment, discipline, desire and a touch of technology never hurts to make them work. Over the next several months, we racked up our fair share of facetime minutes and took turns with me going to Cincinnati and Jenni coming to Tampa.

 

I remember our first fishing trip as if it were yesterday. A local fishing guide and legend in the bay area had turned over most of his day trips to his son. When I spoke with him at the local Frank Sergeant fishing expo I explained “Hey, I am dating this very hot young lady from Ohio who wants to go fishing…and I really want to impress her…so can we go “catching” instead?” (Guide humor included here for free!) He assured me that the Spanish Mackerel bite was on fire, and that we would indeed do our best to impress Jenni. As luck would have it, our guide for that first trip was also a commercial fishing guide. We were in for a meat haul that day. In a matter of a few hours, we had emptied the live well and filled the boat up with Spanish Mackerel. As we were heading back to the dock that day, our guide tugged at my shirt and whispered “I think she’s a keeper!”. No truer words had been spoken.

Since 2007, my life has been turned upside down in the most amazing way. I have had the great fortune to fish with a lot of different people in my life. Family, friends, co-workers, customers, partners and sometimes total strangers. I used to wonder what it would be like to have a fishing buddy that wanted to put her rain suit on and head out in the shittiest conditions. Or plan a vacation around the greatest redfishing on the planet like the Louisiana marsh. Or stay on my ass until I bought her and I fishing kayaks. Or put a calendar reminder for me around a flats class seminar or charity fishing tournament like Take Stock in Children. I am so grateful that I don’t have to wonder about ANY of those things any longer. If you have made it this far in this blog, I have two hopes and wishes for YOU. I hope you seek and find true happiness in your life, and I hope you find your favorite fishing buddy. I have been blessed to find mine.