Okay not really. But there I was standing in Sportco at the checkout line with an honest to God- $17.00 authentic yellow Eagle Claw spin rod in all its glory. I felt like an idiot just holding it (upside down of course- reel seat up) and who else could of possibly witnessed this spectacle that could have made me feel worse than the General himself. I suppose he was picking up some tackle for himself ( yup I saw what he was buying too... could those have been pink finnesse worms? Hmmmm.)
I think he recognised me as someone who passes himself off as a coniesiuer of tackle, looks at me and gave this infitessimal shrug, eye rolling frowny sorta face and turns away without even a "hey". I can't really blame him- what would I have done if the shoes were reversed? So, there I am and for an instant I wondered what was my best plan for recovery. Should I blurt out an instant confession that the rod is not for me? That I broke a house rod out at a friend of a friends house on Hood Canal, screwing around trying to snare crabs off the deck at high tide and got snagged up. (No alcohol involved of course.) Or should I bow my head and just feel sorry for my pitifull condition.
I think this will take years to fade away.
The shame...the shame of it all...