The Name behind the Blog.

Life is quite a diverse up-and-down ride for all of us, isn't it.

We may have certain loves and passions for this and that, wandering here and there, focused on one particular thing or another . . . but the whole vast experience of life is a rather messy array of characters, journeys, plots, beginnings, endings, adventures, epiphanies, and the oh-so-mundane moments. How do you write about it all; how do you capture this grand lop-sided roller coaster through life with any clarity?

I pondered that as I thought about what to title this blog. If I am to write with any honesty (and I truly want that), it is going to be a rather big mish-mash of experiences, because life never flows in one direction with calmness and certainty. It's messy. And, like a river breaching its banks, life overflows at times, becomes a trickle, rages uncontrollably, or meanders along peacefully.

Static, it is not.

So that brings me to my point, which is about the title of this blog: "Click & Pawl." I do love metaphors. So what metaphors did I find in these words, you ask?

Well, first of all, "Click & Pawl" is the name of the simplest of fly fishing reels. Mechanically, a small notched wheel rests inside the reel, tempering the turning of the spool by a similarly small pawl (a metal lever that acts as a brake of sorts). Since much of my life has been centered around the sport of fly fishing, the metaphor of a fly reel, at least, seemed appropriate. So here's where the other metaphors come in:

The slang phrase "to click" is defined as a sudden realization, understanding, or epiphany (well, I've had plenty of those as I'm sure you have too . . . so I will put pen to paper about those moments of clarity, whether it relates to fly fishing, life in general, or whatever feels right to reveal). The "pawl" as I mentioned, is a sort of brake, causing a pause. So, in honor of the metaphor, this use of the word "pawl" refers to pausing and a moment of reflection.

That's it. This blog is about those sudden realizations, a spark of clarity, then taking a pause and a moment of reflection to write about them. Fly fishing, nature, art, health, life in general . . . these musings will all be channeled into different categories so you can dip into whatever draws you in.

Welcome to "Click & Pawl, the Blog" . . .

P.S. No "A.I.-at-Play" here. Just raw, honest writing; hiccups and all . . .