Hook, Line and Sinker
Nature’s perfection.
Perched on the northern New Mexico border, the terrain mirrors the topography of southern Colorado. Enclosed by a protective ring of mountains, including the towering Wheelers Peak, lies a serene blue lake, embraced by a sprawling high meadow where cattle and horses freely graze. I admire the vast open space, green grass with a vibrant blanket of wildflowers. At an elevation of 8,500 feet, the morning sun feels like warm gold glistening on my skin, providing a comforting contrast to the brisk mountain air. To be present in nature awakening into a new day. I take a moment to live in the middle of it, grounded in reverence, a quiet slice of heaven on Earth. A sense of deep peaceful contentment, time stands still— and this place feels, spiritual.
The moment our guide arrives, we eagerly follow him to an uninhabited stretch of river known as Holy Water, the pristine headwaters of the Cimarron River. Towering canyon walls, shades of brown granite tinged with hints of red, wrap around us, instantly making me feel small in the presence of their earthy magnitude. The clear river combined with the colossal fragrant pines create a majestic energy that is nothing short of humbling.
Sharing space with a busy community of creatures— butterflies, fish, beavers, bears, snakes, birds, and countless others, all coexisting harmoniously in their untouched private world, day after day. To watch nature just ‘doing its thing’ is to witness —a truly sacred land.
We put on our waders and boots. Our guide, Rick, rigs us up with the perfect flies that the fish are particularly interested in and helps us set up our lines. He leads us through tall grasses into the flowing river and instructs, "Elizabeth, wade out thigh-deep." I'm a little nervous to step into the flowing water, but I find my footing and feel more comfortable in the water than in the thick chest-high grass we walked through.
I lose track of time as I concentrate on fishing. We search for the currents, that hold the “buffet line, the chocolate box assorted selection” of midges, moths, etc. floating in them. Our flies blend in disguised as the real deal, hoping to attract a trout. Standing still, I gently cast my line in rhythm with the water’s flow. I hold enough tension in my line to keep the fly on top of the water, then watch my line straighten out to find its position for the next cast. Quiet. Patient. Casting. Woken up from my tranquility I feel a tug on the line, a fish takes the bait. I raise my rod tip to allow the fish to swim while Rick, our guide, instructs me to keep my line loose and allow this rainbow to tire out. Then, just as easily as I hooked him, the clever trout performs a swift maneuver, jumping into the air and with big pursed fish lips, spits out the hook. We watch him swimming away through the clear water. What a beauty. A day I’ll remember, spending deep in nature’s life energy.
There is just one catch to the story.
Back home now I settle into daily tasks, marking off my to-do list, I google Avis rental car to reserve a car for an upcoming family trip. I dial the number and hear a man (from Avis…) say, “ We are offering a special promotion with American Express gift cards. Pay for your rental with these gift cards and receive a great discount on your car.” I decided to save some money and go purchase a gift card. I call him back (on his direct line?), he sends me an Avis confirmation code and I give him my gift card information.
I woke up the next morning thinking about the Avis deal, something smelt fishy. I call another Avis number, this time the correct one, indeed they had our reservation but alas no gift card promotion. After an hour-long conversation, the Avis rep and I are no closer to solving the booking debacle. Finally, we concluded it was a bogus reservation. I quickly phoned Amex, and luckily in time to flag the gift card charge. I feel just like my trout who manages to recover from being caught. Nothing was lost but my time and pride. Hook, line, and sinker.
p.s. If you have ever been a victim of a scam, there are two ways you can report it. Fill out an online form through the Federal Trade Commission and contact your local state attorney general’s office. Together we can do our part to help stop these happening.
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