Fish Naked

In college I worked at the Bulloch Veterinary Clinic. There were three Vet's there ... Dr. Duggar, Dr. Nesmith and ... the young hip newly graduated Dr. Bridges. Dr. Duggar was the business man. Dr. Nesmith's family was rooted throughout the region and brought in customers and ... Dr. Bridges was just freaking cool. One morning I arrived at work and he was sitting in his truck. Everybody in Statesboro drives trucks. I'm not sure why but they do. Well ... they drive tractors too. Once the farmers had a protest demanding tax incentives for working in the fields like Slaves. They wanted additional compensation. So they lined up these huge air conditioned, custom made with excellent sound system tractors up and drove them past City Hall to show their displeasure. Those of us watching thought it pretty ironic. Anyway, Dr. Bridges motioned me to get in his truck so I climbed in the passenger side. "Listen to this," he said and he cracked up the custom made sound system in the cool of the air conditioned cab and ... for the first time in my life I heard ... Meat Loaf sing "Paradise by the Dash Board Lights" "Pretty cool huh," Dr. Bridges said when it was over. I was blown away by his coolness. Later he invited Bob Coursen and I over to his farm where his tractor was parked beside his truck. He was sitting outside in a blue fuzzy bathrobe in boxer shorts, unstrapped boots and a cowboy hat. His feet were propped on the side of a kiddie inflatable swimming pool ... which was stocked with fish. Holding an expensive rod-and-reel, he would cast by hitting release and letting the hook drop straight down where a fish would immediately bite. "Hey boys," he said and we saw the giant cigar hanging from the side of his mouth. "Y'all like to fish? There are rods over there." The man just reeked of cool. He also was the first person I ever knew to have a C B radio. His handle was ... Dr. Danger. I tell you all of that to tell you this. After Dr. Bridges set a very high standard, I have spent the rest of my life trying to surround myself with cool people. I had really cool children. I did some really cool things like run with Olympic Torch, conduct a hostile takeover of a hospital Emergency Room, and had Jehovah kick me out of a band. I moved to a really cool place and was a Beach Bum until they kicked me off the team. I've been to a lot of very places. Roma and Johnny O are my friends. And ... I am the coolest dresser around. After years of struggle to embrace the coolness, today I feel pretty cool. Sarah and I are celebrating by going to Wall Mart and buying a kiddie inflatable swimming pool. Then we're off to Bass Pro Shop for rods-and reels and fish. I'm substituting the cowboy hat for my worn UGA hat and losing the fuzzy robe for Naked Fishing. St. Martin is just around the corner. It's all cool.