Letting out a soft sigh, Rollie leaned back in the boat.  The golden rays of the setting sun were filtering through the trees, bouncing off the lake and shading the country side with an amber glow.  The cool, crisp air of the mountainside washed over his body as he reclined, his pole sitting loosely in his hand.

    With a deeper, more contented sigh, he pulled the brim of his fishing hat over his eyes.  Shutting off the pristine forest land from his vision and settling into a relaxed daze.  His body slackened and, lulled to bed by the jumping fish and tweeting birds, Rollie fell asleep.  His breaths came slow and even, the boat rocking in the same rhythm.

    Overhead, an Eagle circled on the gusts and drafts.  Floating on invisible currents of air, his broad wings held him aloft.  Then, diving with a cry, he splashed across the surface of the lake.  Beating his might wings, he carried a way in its talons a hefty fish.  With prey in hand, he disappeared into the sky.

    The day was passing peacefully, arriving at the camp grounds deep in the Appalachians, Rollie had made camp quickly.  He wanted to spend the remainder of the day fishing.  The lightweight boat he'd rented slid easily from the Ram and wasn't hard to carry.  Now, he enjoyed the easy movement of water lapping against the hull.

    A jerk on the line startled him from his slumber.  His hand tightening firmly, he sat up and began to angle the fish.  Playing out line and toying with the movement, he teased it in slowly.  Easily, as it was pulling the line taunt and bending the traditional bamboo pole, he drew in the line and pulled the fish to the surface.

    His smile, which hadn't budged from his face since pulling off the highway and onto local county roads, broadened.  He chuckled lightly, pulling the fish out of its environment.  It was giant.  The largest he'd caught in the States.  Heaving it onto the boat, his heart quickened a little.

    The rich color of its scales danced in the dying light.  Taking a deep breath, Rollie could taste the sweet smell of nature.  The water and the fish, the cool breeze of the mountains and the scent of good old fashioned trees.  Looking about the forest, he felt again that everything would alright.  Problems didn't seem as big out here.  It's probably why the Outback was so soothing, Nature just drains the tension out of you.

    Snapping a few quick pictures with the camera on a tripod, he released the prize-winning fish to be re-caught.  No sense depriving other fisherman of the thrill.  From the middle of the lake, he watched the brilliant colors of the sky as the sun finally dipped below the horizon.  Orange and crimson bands of clouds soared across the heavens as the sky dipped into the dusty reds and pinks.

    Steering the boat to shore for the night, he briefly considered the city he'd left behind.  New York was a great place to live, one of the best, but it wasn't always the best place to *be*.  Sometimes, he longed for dry winds and sandy landscapes he was familiar with.  Maybe a return to Oz was due, but it would have to wait until everything back home was sorted out.  Work was a mess and with all that had been going on, he felt running half way across the country might cause a few problems.

    Beaching the boat and locking down the motor, Rollie settled in to cook and relax.  The fire was roaring in moments and with a few flicks of his wrist the cooking stand was erected.  Setting a pot on it, he emptied some beans and franks into it.  A goofy grin spread across his face.  He was like a kid at camp.

    The clearing he'd thrown down in was a small oasis in a thicket of trees.  The pickup was parked a good ways away, closer to the lake.  Sighing contentedly, he gazed up at the stars and pondered the future and past.  He'd always been fascinated by the night sky, not so much in study but more in appreciation.  It wasn't important to him what the stars or shapes where called, just that they glowed down in mindless benevolence.

    A quote he'd heard once ran through his mind.  "The stars don't shine on us, we get in the lights way."  It didn't really fit his mood but it seemed to fit the moment.  Laughing lightly to himself, he thought about his first night in the states.  Well, his first time star gazing here.  It was with Cassidy.

    A tear rose when he thought of his long lost friend.  Briefly he fought the memory, but looking around the woods and then up at the stars, he felt now was as good a time as any to let them come.  Her delicate features smiled at him from behind his lids.  She was smart and sassy all over again.  His memory bringing her back to life behind his eyes.

    But no matter how hard he tried, thoughts of her as he wanted to remember invariably lead to the final scene.  Inching closer to the casket, the similarities driving him beyond grief.  So much tragedy, and the boy- no, young man would have still more to face.

    The streams of tears ended, Rollie forced them too.  He smiled, thinking of how silly he must look to her.  Cassidy had hated sadness of any kind, it was part of her charm.  Instead, he followed her advice and tried to be thankful for those happy memories he had.

    It was very wise advice for a teenager.  She had told him once, "Life could be filled with nothing but sadness, and you could still always be thankful for those moments that you're happy.  For even if you loose all you love, at the very least you had something to love.  And that makes life worth living."

    "I love you Cassidy," Rollie whispered into the wind.  And for a moment, he thought he heard her gentle giggle.

    Then, as quickly as the grief was upon him, he was grinning happily again.  His thoughts had drifted to a certain sassy, young blonde.  His time with her making all the pain he'd endured meaningless.  No.  Not meaningless... bitter-sweet.  Just one memory of Angie made the loss and pain of his life worthwhile.  Not just worthwhile, a small price to be paid.

    And he had a lot of these memories.  Moments with his friends, and on occasion family, that always brought a smile to his face and spring to his step.  Rick and the donkey, Leo and his run-in with that baker, Mangela's first encounter with a bidet and that time in Reno that Dingo got swindled.  Laughing heartily now, Rollie sat back and enjoyed the night sky.

    With a belly of food and the fire crackling quietly beside him, Rollie watched the stars peacefully march across their canvas.  When a tiny flash of light crossed his vision, he whispered aloud a simple wish.  Then, with his words still drifting through the night air, he fell asleep.

    "I wish life is always worth living."