Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

BassyiusMaximus · 11-16-2009, 09:30 PM

Stifftip,

If this post helps, good, if it doesn't, I"ll absolutely have it deleted.

I had lost my BFF/Best Fishing Friend just last October. He was 36 and passed from a sudden stroke while he was playing hockey late last September. He was my roomate all through college and my absolute go-to buddy when it came to fishing. Sounds to me like Flaptail was your BFF.

My buddy was the first one, and oftentimes, the only one I'd call when it was time to go fish. He liked all kinds of fishing, like me, and he liked going out in any kind of weather, and I mean any kind of weather. The first winter of 2007/2008, when my boat was new, we went out fishing on the ocean once every month even when the highs were only in the upper 30's. Rain was nothing. Like you, I don't have anyone to replace him with, guys like that are irreplaceable. Irreplaceable.

I'm lucky in that earlier that summer, when I could not get us out fishing for most of the season, I shared with him in an email that I was glad he was my friend and how much I thought of him and valued his friendship, and he replied by thanking me and letting me know that it meant a lot to him. I'm fortunate because so, so many others, they did NOT get to mention this to him before he left. It is like when the question is asked, "What would you say to a loved one who has passed away if you could say anything?" It was about the only thing that helped me deal with the loss, it helped a little.

It is tough when all the stories, experiences and things that we shared together, and all the little details that he'd remember and that I've forgotten, that when he would bring them up, we'd get a tremendous laugh over them, for me, that is only some of the hardest part of him being gone since I forget so many things but it is the others who remember and help us fill in the blanks and oftentimes, the best parts of the story.

Pictures help too and I'm lucky that over the years I had taken pictures here and there and now they are about all I have that mean anything. Pictures sure are valuable. One of the most precious things I have from him is the RSVP for my wedding where he wrote his name. Odd how someones handwriting means more than anything else but that's the way it is for me. He passed away just 3 weeks before the wedding that I know he was looking forward to attending, he just missed it.

Please, I didn't/don't want this thread to be about me because it surely isn't or should not be. If you want it gone, please, anyone who has the power, please delete it. I just know that whenever I have read stories from others who have gone through the same thing, it has helped me and I just want to pass it on. Please forgive me if it is off-base as it was/is not my intention.

11-16-2009, 09:30 PM	#39
BassyiusMaximus Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 353	Stifftip, If this post helps, good, if it doesn't, I"ll absolutely have it deleted. I had lost my BFF/Best Fishing Friend just last October. He was 36 and passed from a sudden stroke while he was playing hockey late last September. He was my roomate all through college and my absolute go-to buddy when it came to fishing. Sounds to me like Flaptail was your BFF. My buddy was the first one, and oftentimes, the only one I'd call when it was time to go fish. He liked all kinds of fishing, like me, and he liked going out in any kind of weather, and I mean any kind of weather. The first winter of 2007/2008, when my boat was new, we went out fishing on the ocean once every month even when the highs were only in the upper 30's. Rain was nothing. Like you, I don't have anyone to replace him with, guys like that are irreplaceable. Irreplaceable. I'm lucky in that earlier that summer, when I could not get us out fishing for most of the season, I shared with him in an email that I was glad he was my friend and how much I thought of him and valued his friendship, and he replied by thanking me and letting me know that it meant a lot to him. I'm fortunate because so, so many others, they did NOT get to mention this to him before he left. It is like when the question is asked, "What would you say to a loved one who has passed away if you could say anything?" It was about the only thing that helped me deal with the loss, it helped a little. It is tough when all the stories, experiences and things that we shared together, and all the little details that he'd remember and that I've forgotten, that when he would bring them up, we'd get a tremendous laugh over them, for me, that is only some of the hardest part of him being gone since I forget so many things but it is the others who remember and help us fill in the blanks and oftentimes, the best parts of the story. Pictures help too and I'm lucky that over the years I had taken pictures here and there and now they are about all I have that mean anything. Pictures sure are valuable. One of the most precious things I have from him is the RSVP for my wedding where he wrote his name. Odd how someones handwriting means more than anything else but that's the way it is for me. He passed away just 3 weeks before the wedding that I know he was looking forward to attending, he just missed it. Please, I didn't/don't want this thread to be about me because it surely isn't or should not be. If you want it gone, please, anyone who has the power, please delete it. I just know that whenever I have read stories from others who have gone through the same thing, it has helped me and I just want to pass it on. Please forgive me if it is off-base as it was/is not my intention.