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| StriperTalk! All things Striper |
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06-05-2013, 08:37 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Reading Mass/Newburyport/merrimack river
Posts: 3,748
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Tribute to a friend
last night was the high light of my season....nothing that happens this year will top it...Last October, my long time.. young friend walked into my office and dropped a bomb shell...he told me he had stage 4 lyphoma..... I was stunned.. Mike is 37 with a wife and 7 year old twins... I've known Mike since he was very young...I fished with both his grand father and Dad ( I still ice fish with his father) ... after aggressive Chemotherapy he is schedluled for his final pet scan on Friday.. the last two have been clean... the treatments have left him weak and vulnerable.. but he's fighting back and looks good....it was like old times, him on "point" like a bird dog on the bow, casting at breaking fish... we didn't land any monsters, the fish were averaging about 10 lbs.. but we got a bunch of 'em... when late in the tide ( our third last drift) Mike did what he has always done when I put him in posistion.. after making a move looking for "something better" .. he coaxed a 20+ lb fish to strike and put it in the boat.. not a monster or even large by our standards.. but it brought smiles and laughing.. Mike shook my hand and said "it's a great day to be alive".. I relied it's a great ****** day!... having him healthy and smiling did me good.. i think he profited as well... this winter has been especialy hard, him with lymphoma and another dear friend, known to some here, batteling lyme disease... his battel is not over yet.. aggressive treatments have left him worn and ragged.... I write this to let every one know that we ALL need to count our blessing ... EVERY DAY... you never know what fate may be waiting.. make the best of your friendships and be kind to one another... and lastly.. fishing aint always about catching fish..
tight lines all
Roc
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A good run is better than a bad stand!
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06-05-2013, 08:58 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,449
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That is an awesome story!
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John Redmond Thinks He's Smart By Changing My Avatar
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06-05-2013, 09:01 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Attleboro, MA
Posts: 453
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06-05-2013, 09:12 AM
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#4
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Red Eye Jedi
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: East Facing
Posts: 4,374
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06-05-2013, 09:16 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,595
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NICE
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06-05-2013, 10:09 AM
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#6
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BigFish Bait Co.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hanover
Posts: 23,392
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I try to live every day just like that Joe! Great story and very happy to hear good news about your good friend....may he have many healthy years ahead of him!  |
Almost time to get our fish on!!! 
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06-05-2013, 10:17 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: People's Republic
Posts: 1,025
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"Enjoy every sandwich" - Warren Zevon
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06-05-2013, 10:21 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lexington, MA
Posts: 1,940
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thanks for sharing Joe. Great stuff...
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 Blond Terror
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06-05-2013, 10:48 AM
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#9
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Ledge Runner Baits
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: I live in a house, but my soul is at sea.
Posts: 8,615
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Good read, great to be on the right side of the lawn for sure, enjoying good times with good friends.
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06-05-2013, 10:49 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Newport, RI
Posts: 2,395
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Nice!
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06-05-2013, 11:06 AM
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#11
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Very Grumpy bay man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 10,824
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As a 6 year cancer survivor (in remission) I know all too well from where you speak. I live everyday like it's my last
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No boat, back in the suds.  
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06-05-2013, 11:15 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
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It's really about friendships as you get older
Roc, great thread !! I don't know how old you are but I'm just about 60 here. In my younger years it was about catching lotsa' fish or big ones. I find that now the best about the sport is fishing with friends, rehasing past memories, remembering those who can no longer fish with us, holding onto and making new memories. I am thankful for all those I've met through fishing and all those I will meet. Wishing good health to your friend and to all fishermen that we fish with. Tight Lines !
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06-05-2013, 11:26 AM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Reading Mass/Newburyport/merrimack river
Posts: 3,748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul D
Roc, great thread !! I don't know how old you are but I'm just about 60 here. In my younger years it was about catching lotsa' fish or big ones. I find that now the best about the sport is fishing with friends, rehasing past memories, remembering those who can no longer fish with us, holding onto and making new memories. I am thankful for all those I've met through fishing and all those I will meet. Wishing good health to your friend and to all fishermen that we fish with. Tight Lines !
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I'm 58.... I've lost fishing friends my age or slightly older some to heart atacks.. others to cancer.. it took my Father @ 63... my mother died from a series of heart attacks @ 57.. I'm no starnger to it...... but when I see young guy's in thier 30's getting sick.. it refocuses your thoughts on life... Pieema... glad to hear good news... as you said.. you know where my heart is... |
A good run is better than a bad stand!
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06-05-2013, 11:44 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethany CT
Posts: 2,883
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excellent story
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No, no, no. we’re 30… 30, three zero.
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06-05-2013, 12:17 PM
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#15
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Very Grumpy bay man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 10,824
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Thanks Joe. When my friend Lanny Grazini died of cancer I was devastated. It's tough loosing good friends but especially those who you have that special fishing bond with.
Thank God your friend is doing well.
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No boat, back in the suds.
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06-05-2013, 02:27 PM
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#16
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Land OF Forgotten Toys
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Central MA
Posts: 2,309
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I recently had my father beat prostrate cancer. And a good friend of ours is lowing on a bed with "treatable" pancreatic cancer it is stories like Mikes that give me hope for many. Congrats to him! Last night is just one moment in a long lifetime of great things to come
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
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06-05-2013, 02:49 PM
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#17
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Certifiable Intertidal Anguiologist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Somewhere between OOB & west of Watch Hill
Posts: 35,270
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Good for your friend and thank you for sharing |
~Fix the Bait~ ~Pogies Forever~
Striped Bass Fishing - All Stripers
Kobayashi Maru Election - there is no way to win.
Apocalypse is Coming:
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06-05-2013, 03:41 PM
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#18
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Afterhours Custom Plugs
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: R.I.
Posts: 8,642
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sounds like you guys had a great time roc! best wishes for your buddy mike.
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06-05-2013, 03:54 PM
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#19
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........
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,805
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nice read ...Joe ...he's lucky to have a good friend like you
as you give him power.
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06-05-2013, 05:25 PM
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#20
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Uncle Remus
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Lakeville Ma.
Posts: 14,773
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Great story Joe. I am sure you made his day, along with yours. Well wishes to your friend and his battle.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
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06-05-2013, 06:28 PM
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ashland, Mass.
Posts: 596
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That is a great story, Joe! Congrats to Mike and to you both on a great day. Enjoy your time together as we never know when our last trip might be.
One of my close friends, lost their 14 year old son to brain cancer a year ago. This kid was full of life and always smiling, even during his sickness. He loved fishing and would always ask me how I did when I saw him, and want to how I caught 'em and any pic's? About a month before he got too sick to go, we went to a local lake and caught some fish together, and just talked. As he sat there with his hairless head covered with his baseball hat staring out at the lake, he told me,"This is what I'm going to miss the most." I took a picture of him with a bass he caught and gave it to him. He died about a month and a half later, with that picture beside his bed. Sometimes when I'm having a crappy day, I think about him, and that day, and it makes me smile. Enjoy your time out, and dont always make it just about fishing. I miss ya Mike!
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06-05-2013, 07:13 PM
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#22
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Middleboro MA
Posts: 17,125
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nice story Joe, I'm glad to hear your friend is a fighter and he knows how to enjoy what he has. I wish him well, and good for you sharing some fishing time with him.
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The United States Constitution does not exist to grant you rights; those rights are inherent within you. Rather it exists to frame a limited government so that those natural rights can be exercised freely.
1984 was a warning, not a guidebook!
It's time more people spoke up with the truth. Every time we let a leftist lie go uncorrected, the commies get stronger.
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06-05-2013, 08:14 PM
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: North Shore
Posts: 1,701
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Thanks for the story ... inspiring ... and certainly do agree that we should not take any day for granted and to live it with gratitude and to live it to its fullest ... a credo we should all follow ... thanks again.
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"It was the blackest night! There was no moon in sight! (You know the stars ain't shinnin cause the sky's too tight) "
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06-05-2013, 11:27 PM
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#24
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Callinectes sapidus
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,277
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Thanks for sharing that story Roc -
We need stories or rather reminders like these, about how precious and limited our time is hear on earth. I often take it for granted and am always humbled by stuff like this. Takes me back a few steps. We get stressed out about the stupidest things sometimes.
Great read, good for the both of you...when it's all said and done, make sure you're on the right team. God Bless us all.
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 ... it finally happened, there are no more secret spots
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06-06-2013, 07:10 AM
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#25
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Too old to give a....
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,505
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" There are only two ways to live your life, one as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle.".
Albert Einstein.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
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06-06-2013, 07:49 AM
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Rho Die-lun
Posts: 44
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Tribute...
Excellent read..., what a tribute!
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Aquidneck Island Striper Team
Skull and Bones Fishing Club
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06-06-2013, 08:16 AM
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#27
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OLDGOAT7205963
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: CAPE
Posts: 693
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Thank you for sharing Joe.
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06-06-2013, 08:17 AM
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Marblehead, MA
Posts: 865
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Great stuff!
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06-06-2013, 01:45 PM
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#29
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: East Prov RI
Posts: 1,501
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great story Joe, thanks for sharing.
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06-06-2013, 02:44 PM
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#30
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Annisquam Assassin
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Peabody, MA
Posts: 669
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well said
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Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job. ~Paul Schullery
There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. ~Paul O'Neil, 1965
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