A  BIRTHDAY  STORY

When Bradford was five or so--about the age he is in this picture--we visited Aunt Pud and Uncle Jimmy in Pecos. Always a treat, this visit was especially so. They had planned a big day for us out on The Land, a barren acreage whose claim to our attention was The Tank, a cement pool filled with fish. The adjacent house (not a cottage, possibly a camp) had rustic dimensions that made cooking and eating and sleeping possible. We spent a long afternoon there, with reels and rods and the whole Pecos family preparing a fish fry. 

The hooks went in and, over time, came out, usually with a fish.

Everyone caught at least one.  

Except Bradford. 

The sun went down, the bugs came out, and still Bradford sat holding a long, empty rod. People started to eat, wondering how long he would sit there. 

He sat there until--finally--he caught a fish. A great Whoop went up.  Bradford was much pleased with his first catch. 

It was also his last. He has yet to cast another rod into another tank.

This is the pattern he set that day. Define the goal, your goal. Focus on it--really focus. Then when you've got it,  move on.  

Think javelina, think Pachelbel’s Canon... think Dean’s List.

Think Bradford. Its his birthday!