I have had a few hobbies over the years.  Baseball card collecting, weightlifting, fishing, drinking, and various other things.  The one I haven’t done in the longest time is fishing.  Not since I lost my "Ugly Stik".
 
Growing up, my family always went fishing.  I never really participated, though.  It wasn’t until they stopped that my interest began.  From then, I wanted an "Ugly Stik".  It was strong, but very flexible.  It was virtually indestructible.
 
One Christmas, I got enough money to buy one.  It was beautiful.  Because of its strength, I called it "Excalibur".  My friends and I went fishing every chance we got.  We fished for 24 hours straight once at four different places.  We fished on the lava rocks and cliffs.  We would often get covered by rough seas and lose equipment.  Night was scary because you couln’t tell the height of the water, even with a flashlight.
 
The Sea and me have never been on good terms.  That’s a fact.  It must have got fed up with me taking from it and for not being sucked up by its waves. So one day, while I was putting away my fishing gear, it sucked up my "Ugly Stik".  It took my most prized possession.  Fisherman will tell you to never turn your back on the sea, but that day I did.  And every day since.