The last 7 or 8 years "look back" have all been as enjoyable as the seasons and the year fishing had been. This is the first year in a long time i did not break 100, or get to the West Branch of the -------, or about 8 or 9 other rivers i try to fish once a year. I did manage to ply new water (always part of the goal). However the few days i managed to get out were either not very productive or there were to many other things going on.
Nearly every member of my family was in the hospital... my wife, my daughter (4 x), brother had spinal surgery, dad had a defibrillator added to his pacemaker and i had something or other. It seemed like we were blessed for 20 or 25 years with no one really sick or any problems and then about 2 years ago i lost my mom and last year my grand pa and now this year.... It is tough to wonder what is around the bend and not nearly as much fun as on a river (around the bend) but that's life and just something to deal with. I got to believe next year will be better and am finally in position to look beyond 2007 and forward to 2008.
As i close out the year i am comforted by the French mountaineering expression (which i will tailor here to fly fishing) - "The River, she is always there".
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