GOTTA ADMIT I THOUGHT I WAS
PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THIS BLOG THING..PLENTY OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES THAT I JUST
RODE PAST RATHER THAN STOP AND TAKE PHOTOS OF..THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO THE POST
“WARRIORS-COMFORT FOR THE WOUNDED” REALLY KICKED THE WIND OUT OF MY SAILS..BUT
I GUESS THAT AT LEAST PART OF THE BLOG THING IS SHARING WITH OTHERS..SO--
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| JAY SHOWED ME MANY GREAT FISHING SPOTS DOWN THIS OLD GRAVEL ROAD- HE ONCE CAUGHT A LARGE-MOUTH BASS THAT WE HAD NICK-NAMED "HOLLYWOOD" BACK IN ONE OF THE HIDDEN PONDS |
WHEN I WAS ABOUT NINE OR TEN
YEARS OLD I FIRST MET JAY IN THAT FAIRYTALE WORLD OF CHILDHOOD..SUMMERS LASTED
FOREVER AND WINTER WAS JUST ANOTHER SEASONAL ADVENTURE RATHER THAN A STRUGGLE
WITH HEATING COSTS, SNOW TIRES, FLU-SHOTS, SHOVELING SNOW ETC. ETC.
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| A VIEW OF THE RIVER AS WE APPROACH OUR FISHING AREA |
WE LIVED JUST A FEW HOUSES APART
AND WE WERE BLESSED WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BORDERED A LARGE SECTION OF FOREST
(FOREST IS NOW GONE, WAS REPLACED BY A HOUSING PROJECT)..TOGETHER WE CAUGHT
SNAKES-SALAMANDERS-LIZARDS AND DID A BIT OF FISHING..WINTER WOULD FIND US
TENDING TO OUR LITTLE TRAP LINE THAT FOLLOWED A BROOK INTO AND THROUGH THAT
FOREST..WE NEVER CAUGHT A THING BUT WE BOTH LOVED THE MAJESTY AND BEAUTY OF THE
FOREST AND OUR LITTLE BROOK..WE WERE FULFILLED BY THE WILD SPLENDOR AND DIGNITY
OF NATURE AND HER CREATURES..
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| "OUR SPOT' WHERE ALL THE CRAP OF THE WEEK AND DAY TO DAY HEADACHES WOULD MELT AWAY |
TIME WENT ON AND WE DRIFTED
APART..I JOINED THE MARINES, JAY-THE NATIONAL GUARD..MY MOM OFTEN SAID “I SENT
THE MARINES A YOUNG MAN-THEY SENT ME BACK A MONSTER.” SHE WAS QUITE RIGHT..BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK
TOGETHER AND MY SOCIAL CIRCLE CONSISTED OF OTHER ‘MONSTERS’..THERE CAME A
CERTAIN EVENTFUL NIGHT WHEN I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO END UP AS EITHER A DEAD
‘MONSTER’ OR A ‘MONSTER’ THAT WAS SAFELY LOCKED AWAY FROM SOCIETY..IT WAS AFTER
THIS TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE THAT JAY AND I MET AGAIN IN THE PARKING LOT OF A
COFFEE SHOP..AFTER SOME LIGHT TALK HE CHALLENGED ME TO A CHESS GAME, I
ACCEPTED, HE BEAT ME BADLY..
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| WE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS SURROUNDED BY THIS BEAUTY.. WE ALWAYS RELEASED THE TROUT WE CAUGHT RATHER THAN DIMINISH THE RIVER BY TAKING HER FISH |
I LOOKED FORWARD TO PLAYING CHESS
WITH HIM AND ONE FINE NIGHT I FINALLY BEAT HIM IN A DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS PARKING
LOT..HE EASED ME BACK INTO FISHING-HUNTING-ARCHERY..EASED ME BACK INTO THE LOVE
OF THE OUTDOORS AND THE PEACE OF MIND THAT AWAITED ME THERE..SIMPLE MAN-SIMPLE
PLEASURES..EASED ME BACK INTO A GOOD WAY OF LIFE..
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| LOOKING UPSTREAM FROM 'OUR SPOT' |
JAY WAS IN MANY WAYS A LONER AND
SO AM I..HOWEVER, WE WERE ALWAYS COMFORTABLE IN EACH OTHER’S COMPANY..STRAIGHT
FORWARD AND TO THE POINT..I WOULD SAY WE WERE JUST SHY OF BEING BROTHERS AND WE
GOT ALONG MUCH BETTER THAT SOME BROTHERS DO..JAY STOPPED OVER OUR PLACE ON
SUNDAY OCTOBER 21.. WE WENT TO A LOCAL GUN SHOP TOGETHER THEN VISITED A FIRING
RANGE..LATER WE RETURNED HERE, HAD SOME HOME-MADE APPLE PIE, SOME TALK ABOUT
ONE MORE AFTERNOON OF FISHING BEFORE WE CALLED IT A SEASON..HE WENT ON HOME AND
LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER MY LIFE-LONG FRIEND PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY..I’M NOT THE
TYPE OF GUY THAT SHEDS TEARS-LAST TIME WAS IN 1999 WITH THE PASSING OF MY
FATHER..DON’T MIND TELLING YOU THAT I SURE HAVE SHED A FEW THESE LAST FEW
DAYS..THOUGHT I’D SHARE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU OF THE PLACES THAT WE BOTH LOVED
SO MUCH..THESE PLACES WERE ALMOST SACRED GROUND FOR US—NOW THEY ARE CERTAINLY
SACRED GROUNDS FOR ME..
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| JUST A LITTLE FURTHER UPSTREAM |
I AM DEFINITELY A RELIGIOUS TYPE
OF GUY BUT NOT IN THE CLASSICAL SENSE..AND I DO BELIEVE THAT AFTER JAY GETS
SETTLED IN, HE WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD FISHING SPOTS TO SHARE WITH ME
SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD..TILL THEN THE FARMINGTON RIVER WILL NEVER BE QUITE THE
SAME FOR ME..
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| WE HAVE WAITED FOR YEARS TO SEE THIS TREE FINALLY FALL IN NOW I REALLY HOPE IT DOESN'T--FOR SOME REASON |
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| HAPPY FISHING MY OLD FRIEND--SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD--HOPE YOUR GETTING SOME GOOD "RIVER-TIME" JIM |
14 comments:
Oh my goodness Jim, so much in this post - it seems that dear Jay was in every one of these amazing and beautiful photos. I cannot imagine the shock of Jay's passing so soon after you had enjoyed a wonderful visit together.
Childhood friends, so many memories and he led you back.....
Jim, I'm so so pleased you did this post and shared this wonderful childhood story or you and this remarkable man with whom you shared so much.
RIP Jay
Hugs to you Jim
Love and thoughts to Jay's family and friends.
R.
Thanks Rose--There is so much more I could say about Jay-but alas, words can't really flow as freely as I would like..I was best-man at his wedding and I am the Godfather of his son Lukas..Thanks again Rose for your kind words--Jim
I just added your web page to my bookmarks. I enjoy reading your posts. Thank you!
Jim,
This was well written and really touched on the depth of your friendship with Jay. I'm so sure he would also agree he felt the same about you. There is no doubt in my mind that you both shared a kindred spirit. I know where Jay is now and that he has a lot of catching up to do with Candace and probably fish a few new rivers. Thank you for sharing, stay well & keep in touch.
Thanks for stopping by Tom..It was good to see you again I just wish it was under other circumstances..Already my weekend has been diminished knowing I won't be hearing from Jay..Hope all is well with you and your wonderful family-- Keep in touch---Jim
Thanks for sharing, I'll miss him so much.
Hi Daisy--I know what you mean-I missed him immediately as soon as I heard the news--stay well--Jim
Thanks for sharing Jim, Jay reshowed me how to fly-fish just a few months ago and what a great time it was. Everyone keeps saying 'well where he is now he is probably catching the biggest fish ever' I respond by telling them hope not I hope it is just as challenging and adventureous as you have shared here, where would the enjoyment be if it wasn't. They have all shook their head in understandment. It's amazing how the little things just make me smile now - just walked my dog and a bunch of leaves swirled around and engulfed us. I can't help but think how such beauty could be orcestrated and now Jay is part of that. I smiled and thanked him. Through Jay we met you Jim and I am very thankful for your friendship. I hope you will find comfort in the coming days and I am sure I too will find myself on the river knowing that is where he too is.
Your VERY right April--Jay would be disappointed if the trout just jumped into his net..Take all the fun out of the game-same as if I let him win every chess game we played..Yea, your very right on that point--take care--Jim
I have visited your blog many times since your last post and I was wondering if you were done. These photos were amazing and remember that blogging is as much for yourself as it is for us. Great post Jim.
I was deeply saddened Jim when you told me of Jay's sudden passing. I had heard Jay's name mentioned many times by you before I had the pleasure of meeting him. Although he and I only had a few short conversations, it was easy to see what a great guy he was. I'm so glad I had the pleasure of meeting him.
Have a blessed Christmas Jim.
Jim just having Jay thoughts,
Since Jay's passing I've returned to this page multiple times. So many thoughts, I miss his Sunday afternoon phone calls or our coffeee stops on a Sunday afternoon at the whole donut. Catching up on our family stuff and exchanging political views. Jay also taught me to play chess and he charged me a $1.00 a game if I lost. Many of my allowances were given to him to sharpen my chess skills. When I divorced Jay would come down to the lake near where I was living to teach me how to fly fish. Most of the flys Jay gave me were stuck in the tree behind me but he would just smile and put another one on for me. There's so much more I could write about Jay but I'll leave you with this . . . he was a great brother and a friend and there will be no other like him.
Just great to hear from you Tom. Funny how you mentioned the weekend phone calls. Even now the thought of giving Jay a call and checking out the river together begins to blossom in my mind-then I have to remind myself. I still glance down the road as if to see his truck parked in front of the house..BIG-VERY BIG hollow spot in my life...Stay in touch-Jim
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