Recently I had the opportunity to speak to the Reynolds Lake Oconee Bass Club and talk about the lake, different techniques for bass, stripers, hybrids, and tell a few stories.

Some of the stories were even true y’all!

I talked about the changes I have seen here since the creation of the lake; the fishing, the hunting we used to do. I talked about the food of the area and my favorite spots. Yes, honestly my favorite breakfast spot is the BP gas station by the pyramid, and I spoke of being from a place and time that is apparently long gone. They must have appreciated it because a month later I was invited to fish their tournament. My first bass tournament ever.

I just wanted to say thanks to them and say what a great group they are!

Time seems to go by slower when you’re younger.

Yet by the time you have kids, a career, bills, and responsibilities it seems there is never enough. It just flies by. The proof of that is I have now been married to my lovely wife Celeste for more than 25 years, and her parents will celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary in November.

These days celebrating 50 is something we should celebrate more than probably any other time! I mean come on. Besides our grandparents (and still not even all of them), who makes it to 50 years of marriage? This used to be put in the papers, celebrated at church, and talked about with reverence and respect. After knowing my in-laws for now more than half my life, I want to applaud them. Not because my mother-in-law put up with my father-in-law or even vice versa, but because through it all they fixed it, they worked at it, they never gave up. Love only gets you so far. That starry-eyed view you have of your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife only goes so far. The decision to be married and committed is what matters and they certainly personified that commitment!

Chester and Judy Nolin are from a small farming community in southeast Alabama, members of large families and raised not far from the old Ft. Rucker (for all you history buffs that is the home of Army Aviation). My father-in-law served in the Air Force, the Air Force Reserves, and worked for the Department of Defense at Ft. Rucker for his career. My mother-in-law Judy taught school and later retired as a school counselor in the area. In the meantime, they raised three daughters. My wife Celeste is their oldest, Jill Nolin, who is an accomplished journalist, and Pam Nolin, who is an art teacher in the same system my mother-in-law worked in.

While not related to my usual fishing, hunting, and food columns I appreciate you folks allowing me the opportunity to tell you about them. In my own opinion this is what success looks like. This is what we need. More good news. So… Tight lines and following seas y’all!

—Outdoors columnist James Pressley can be reached at jameskpressley@gmail.com .