Trout Republic

The day has finally arrived when Ol’ Dutch and Miss Trixie wave a sorrowful goodbye to the Valley and all of its splendors for a few months as we head to warmer temps.
We have enjoyed our time here this season and have met so many wonderful people. Although I call this place my home, I have long ago given up on snowy slopes, avalanches, icy roads and long winter naps. My winter days are filled with sunshine and working on the farm with grandkids’ laughter and smiles nearby. Who can resist the urge to be there over the long winter months?
About half of our friends have long ago left for southern homes. Most of them left a bit too soon as they are currently sweating in Texas. I always wonder why people go back to that inferno.
It seems that a good share of them have scheduled a visit to their doctors for a checkup and feel compelled to make the long hot trip to see how their blood pressure is. Now Ol’ Dutch himself sees the doctor on a regular basis but at least my providers both general and specialist understand about important things like cool weather and hunting season.
Delivery of juicy elk steaks to the medical staff at appointment time keeps a nice tasty reminder in front of them about when and where Ol’ Dutch needs to be looked at next.
I think some of the problem is these friends all have doctors in Texas instead of Colorado. And at the last appointment that my friends have with said doctor there is talk of being in cool, wonderful Colorado for the summer. And, those sweltering practitioners of the medical arts are mad that old Bill or Marilyn will be living it up in higher elevations and therefore make the appointments in August as a form of retribution. I bet their sawbones laughs all the way to the bank.
Ol’ Dutch is not one to dodge a doctor’s appointment and I do not advocate anyone should delay their checkup, but it isn’t that hard to fix it so your regular checkup comes in a month of decent weather (and won’t interfere with hunting season.)
Of course this all got me to thinking -- a dangerous endeavor at the least -- that maybe we have let a lot of people treat us like the employee instead of the employer.
No matter how important a doctor is or our insurance salesman or whatever, they are still working for us --- not the other way around. We do have a choice on when we make appointments to see them.
And how many of us have not sat around the house waiting on the cable installation person for hour upon hour like some zombie in a B-rated movie?  The same goes for repair people as they seem to think that we work on their schedule but yet want to be paid at the end of the workday.
I can recall many times waiting on someone that never does show or call and yet somehow they believe we still want to pay them if and when they do show.
I suppose this same phenomena holds true in our personal lives as well. What man out there has not gone from boss to employee as soon as the knot is tied? Ol’ Dutch can recall when he was the bull goose around this pasture and dictated his own terms as he saw fit.
But of late, I have come to realize I am just the employee in this corporation and Miss Trixie is the CEO. It’s not all bad however as Ol’ Dutch has come to realize that whomever is in charge usually gets blamed and I need out of that loop as much as possible.
Well, folks, next week when I write, it will be from warmer temperatures. Many thanks to those of you who follow Miss Trixie and Ol’ Dutch faithfully in these pages. May your winter season be blessed, full of love and laughter.

Kevin Kirkpatrick and his Yorkie, Cooper, fish, hunt, ATV or hike daily. His email is [email protected]. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.