Right now, as they should, the tournament scales sit idle. There’s too much else going on around our world to worry about plopping a bag of bass on the scales to see how our day stacks up against the competition.
In the B.A.S.S. Tournament Department, we are talking to hosts about future dates with a goal of completing the season. Knowing it will venture into the fall is kind of déjà vu for me. When Dewey Kendrick hired me in 1991 the Bassmaster Classic was a summer affair. Shortly after the Classic, the new season would start rolling into the fall. Christmas and New Years marked the midseason break before the second half concluded around mid to late May. It was fun, and I have full expectations it will be again.
But back to the present — with so much sorrow and uncertainty in the world right now it takes effort to think past COVID-19. So many things we take for granted are on the shelf, like attending church gatherings or ball games. Or simple things like going to grab a bite to eat with friends or family. Some things are gone completely. I don’t know if I will ever freely grab a gas nozzle without rubber gloves and hand sanitizer. Getting in an enclosed area like an airplane is going to be difficult for me. The simple warm gestures of a hug or shaking hands may never be the same.
My pastor, like many others I would imagine, says we will need to get on our knees before getting back on our feet. I do my best praying at night when awakened for no reason. Lately the prayer topics seem overwhelming, but I hope and think we should never run out.
So here is my prayer list. It is probably similar to most.
- My family and friends are safe and healthy.
- My co-workers at B.A.S.S. are safe and healthy.
- Our anglers are safe and healthy.
- Aaron Martens and his family will get good news from his surgery.
- Our doctors, nurses and all others on the front lines of this crisis are safe and healthy and getting the weapons they need to fight this silent enemy.
- Families and friends who have lost loved ones can somehow find peace and comfort in their time of great sorrow.
- Our leaders are making wise decisions.
- The world, by default, is becoming less divided. To win it has to be.
- Students, teachers and school administrators are keeping engaged.
- Life, as we knew it, can get back to some sense of normalcy.
- Knowing that life as we knew it will not be the same, but it hopefully will be better from the hard lessons learned.
So until the scales get busy again, stay safe and stay healthy.