Shootin' it Straight - Watering Hole (Free Access)

A pond, by definition, is a small body of water formed naturally or by hollowing land out. It is undeniably that—but it's so much more.
Find yourself a pond. If you have land, find a holler to dam up. Dig a hole out in the middle of the back forty. Plug that creek up. If need be, put Grandpa’s dozer to good use. Clean those banks back up after the thickets have taken over. Find an elder neighbor who’ll let you work out a usage plan in return for some chores. The size doesn’t matter. Find yourself a pond.
Everyone needs a pond to sneak off to. At the end of a long day, that pond can help you reclaim a sense of calm. We all need a hole of water to drown some redworms in and drag some bluegill off the bank. Every young man needs a well-worn dam to sit on and sneak one in every now and then. That hole in the ground filled with water can make the perfect date night or a confessional to listen to your sorrows.
That old bench sitting on the dam will serve an entire generation the art of knot tying. You’ll enjoy catching your first fish in that corner spot—and with any luck, you’ll witness your children do the same. You’ll curse under your breath as the kid brings yet another fishing pole to you with the bobber tangled to the point of no return.
Find yourself a pond. You’ll always have a swimming hole. You’ll have a place to watch a thousand sunsets and listen to frogs sing in the choir. A pond should be in heavy rotation in every child's upbringing. Whether sitting on the tailgate or laid down by lantern light on the bank, it’s a calming place.
It is more than a hole filled with water. On the surface, it lacks the appeal of more excitable attractions. It doesn’t hold the flash and pomp of the lake, with its glittering bass boats and pontoons. It is far more low-key. It’s made for a simpler time. It’s made for grandpas and Zebco 33s. It’s made for rope swings and tailgates. It’s perfect for lanterns and sleeping bags. It’s made for old lawn chairs, your old man’s shirt hanging on a limb, and Ale-8 bottles in the bushes.
Trust me—and many generations before me—find yourself a pond.