The Secret is Out: I Found the Fountain of My Youth! (Part 3 of 3)
- Christy Landrum
- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min read
I fished with friends and played with rocks.
A 3 part series of How I Found My Fountain of Youth
Introduction
In part I, we talked about walking among giants and how that began my self-rejuvenation. In part II, we talked about rainbows and how I struck gold. Today is part III, fishing with friends and playing with rocks. All the adventures I have spoken of led me to realize that I had found my fountain of youth. I had found a happiness that was almost child-like happiness.
Fishing with friends
Fishing has a lot of fond childhood memories for me. The oldest memory was fishing with my dad, mom, sister, and grandma. We would fish in a creek in the river bottoms with cane poles. Fishing, for me, was just a part of life growing up and is connected to many happy times with family and friends. You can read more about why I enjoy fishing at F*#%ing is Not Just for Men! Ten reasons why women should go fishing. What men don't want you to know.
A day on the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon, with a friend and Matt Ford Guide Service, LLC, was like being that little kid again, enjoying friendship, laughing, talking about life, and having nothing else to do but have a good time on the water.
Playing with rocks
What kid growing up doesn't play with rocks? Skipping rocks, having pet rocks, rocks in your pocket, busting rocks, or just looking for that treasure is what I did. Who would have thought at 50 years old that I would be playing with rocks? I would go with a friend or go alone. I would spend hours going to different beaches along the Oregon Coast looking for agates, pretty rocks, and fossils. I had no idea rock hounding was a serious activity on the coast and in other parts of the world. I have a pretty nice rock collection going.
What are agates
Agate is defined by the Pocket Guide of the Oregon Coast as a translucent (when held to a high power light) chalcedony, a form of quartz with curved or irregular bands or patterns found in virtually all colors—formed by silica-rich waters percolating down through the volcanic basalt. They are found on gravel beds on the Oregon coast throughout the winter, usually after heavy rains and storms. They come from the mountains, descending the rivers that empty into the ocean and washing up onto the shore.
Top left was fossils found on Beverly Beach, the top middle are agates found on various rivers and beaches, the top right is a very large agate that a friend gave me found in the Willamette River, and the bottom left is an agate that shows the bands and middle bottom picture is a small group of agates with light. Can you imagine seeing this shining on the beach in the sunlight? Otherwise, you may pass over them.
Conclusion
When people reminisce, we tend to remember growing up and say, "Those were the good ole days. We didn't have a care in the world." I didn't realize at the time that it was a yearning for my past self. The carefree, fun-loving, and adventurous self that I had forgotten about. The Redwoods, seeing the rainbow, playing in the mud while gold panning, fishing, and rock hounding, took me back to the things I did as a child. Feeling alive and self-rejuvenated is something I believe we can all achieve and continue to achieve for the rest of our life here on earth. These adventures may not be yours, but I know you may have your own and can do them. This ends the 3 part series, and It is my desire that you start searching for your fountain of youth. Download the free worksheet to help get you started in the right direction. You are so worth it!
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