My 17-year old son and I were on a fly fishing trip to the
quality waters of the San Juan River, New Mexico in late August of 1991.

We were standing in the middle of the river while I was trying
in vain to show my son some fishing methods that would help him catch
more fish.

I would make a delicate cast just up stream of a trout-laden
pool. Conversely, he would slop the line down in the middle of the pool,
sending fisher persons and fish alike rocketing for a safe haven.

I would suggest using a very small nymph fly. He would tie on
the largest deep sea ocean fly available!

I would tell him to keep a very tight line. Of course, he let
out enough line to entangle and enrage several other fisher persons down
stream.

All the while, an old white-haired gentleman had been watching
us as he ate his mid-morning snack on the bank across from us.

He finished his snack, picked up his pole and waded out to
where my son and I were. He said that he could not help noticing my
son’s contrary behavior. He asked if he could tell him a theory that his
father had about most kids about the same age.

This is his story.

“Son, one day you will hear a loud pop. From that moment on,
you will be able to hear much clearer. You will be able to hear what
people really are saying, not what you thought they said. You will be
able to see more clearly. You will be able to see what people have done
for you, not to you. You will be able to see people for what they really
are, not what you wanted them to be."

He continued, “Your thinking will become so much sharper and
focused. You will be able to communicate on an adult level. You will
realize that communicating is a sharing of information, not just your
point of view. You will be able to comprehend beyond belief. You will
then be able to truly understand that throughout your life your parents,
teachers, and friends did things for you out of love and caring, not to
punish you. You will be able to appreciate differences in the life you
used to have and now have.

You will know who you are and where you are going."

There was mo “In fact, the whole world will then seem to
make sense instead of being fragmented hurdles that have plagued you for
so long. You will have become a productive member of society!”

The old man stopped talking and turned to leave when my son
spoke up the first time. He asked the old man what the loud pop was.

The old man smiled and nodded his head as he said,

“That loud pop will be caused by your head when it pops out of
your ass!”