Poppy’s Cabin

Posted on 28. Jul, 2011 by tim in Business, Social Media, Storytime

Photo by kasperbs

I grew up spending a lot of my summers in Holly Springs National Forest (Mississippi) on a 40 acre lake with my Poppy (grandfather). Now Poppy built this amazing cabin out of pine wood. It smelt amazing and had an incredible view of the water. But what he didn’t realize was that he would develop an allergy to pine over time.

So what did he do? He sold the cabin and built a new one. He did everything himself (except for laying the foundation). Plumbing, framing, electrical, door hanging, window installs, heat and air, roofing, building the dock, creating a pulley system for the huge picture window in the vaulted ceiling – everything.

It was Poppy’s birthday this past weekend, so we went to visit him, and to say goodbye to the cabin one last time – you see, he’s selling his cabin and his deed to 10 aces of land and half of the lake. It was a fun time, reminiscing and reliving many of the great moments we had together over those many summers growing up.

We even took the boat out and did some fly fishing – we landed about 2 dozen fish (bream and a couple bass) and brought home about half that. It was beautiful – spending time with my grandfather, talking, sharing life, and casting on the open, serene lake. Poppy is a master fly fisherman. I don’t get to fly fish much, but he claims I have a great touch when I do. However undoubtedly, he is a master. I watch him as he effortlessly lets the line soar behind the boat and gracefully launch forward, rolling up next to the bank, under a overhanging tree branch, and landing right on top of the fish bed with a silent splash. A few moments later and he’s bringing in yet another catch.

But why do I tell you all of this?

Well, as Poppy and I were enjoying the afternoon on the lake. We decided to stop by our favorite fishing spot one last time – it’s the hungriest bream bed on the lake. We ever so carefully ease the boat quietly up on this large fish nest, we draw out our line, and just before we can cast…

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Yes, that’s right – Mimi is calling, asking when we’ll be back from fishing! Technology’s reach knows no bounds. Yet, to me it was a fascinating look at where we are today. Besides the fact that we were just slightly disturbed, it is amazing at how accessible our world has become. I could replay this scenario to you as well with me standing in the streets of Mutare, Zimbabwe picking up a slight wisp of WIFI and making a Skype call back to the U.S. (and maybe I will one day soon).

You see, our world is more connected now than ever. But I want to encourage you to use these connection tools to further your cause – to maintain control over them. Use them to connect at the right times, with the right people. And learn how to disconnect now and again and reacquire perspective in life – without social networks, without email, without text messages. Just enjoy an afternoon on the lake.

Poppy, thank you for the recent trip to your cabin. I really enjoyed being disconnected for a day. I needed to be disconnected. And I needed to spend time with you.

Consider this for a minute: When was the last time you disconnected?

Tags: beautiful lake, disconnect, fly fishing, mississippi, poppy's cabin, ringtone, technology