My Habs Story..Till we meet again.

[eelman]

Back in 1986 I was looking for a dog that would not only be an awesome waterfowl retriever but also a companion and friend. I found what I was looking for at a place called “Royal Hunt Kennels” in Norton Ma. The lady who ran the place, Told me she had the perfect Lab for me. I raced up there and spent time with the dog and fell in love, I also got to know the kennel owner’s well and became friends. Once they saw my lifestyle and how much I loved the outdoors Muriel suggested I call a guy named John Haberek, John she said, had just moved to RI and did not know many people here and she thought we would hit it off as friends. We bonded immediately and spent a lot of time together training the dogs and hunting the cornfields in Matunuck, RI for geese and the salt marshes for ducks…It was a great time and John and I hunted every weekend for the better part of 11 years, we also spent a lot of time at Adeville east farm in Smithfield working out our dogs retrieving pheasants for the high paying clientele that would come there for a British style driven hunt. We also fished together and spent countless hours at Watch Hill Light, John loved the place! I also liked it there but after awhile it was just too crowded for my liking and I stopped going there. Anyway throughout those years our families became close, John would come over to my parents house often just to relax and talk to my dad who always made john laugh and feel right at home, often times Little John as his dad called him would come along also, John and Jess spent more than one holiday with us also and Christmas eve was always fun along with new years etc..It was a close friendship. The other thing John and I loved was the opening day of Trout season here in RI, Every year we would stake our claim at Carolina trout pond , back our pickup trucks together and camp out! Grilling awesome food and having so many laughs it just was a great time, Johns son was always with us also.

In the early 90s John and I would do the Dog retrieving demonstrations at all the sportsman shows, we would rent a room for the event and had some great times, and many Laughs were had in those hotel rooms at the end of the day! John acually brokered what was to become a two year relationship I had with one of Al Gags girls, Kelly Greenwood,I am sure you all know her, She still works for gags to this day on and off! Of course it didnt last and I took a good ribbing from everyone including john at the time, he would say "you dont want to hunt today"? "Your spending to much time with her" etc...It was funny because he is the one that fixed us up! But after all was said and done, I got it out of my system and went back to what I truely loved, I would say to John however, "Look at her, wouldent you want to spend time with her instead of sitting in a cold duck blind at 3am"? He said, ya bill you have a good point!



John and I both had similar injuries I had two surgeries to correct my back, when we were both down in pain with our bad backs! We would discuss of all things cooking! John loved good food, and especially enjoyed my mothers cooking! John and I would have little inside contests as to who could make the best chili! We both loved chili! So in the winter I would often head over to his house to sample his latest offering, let me just say John made awesome chili, and we had many laughs over the gas we would both have for the next week! Real good times, real good!


Once my dog died in 1997 I lost the drive to hunt anymore, I also wanted to concentrate more on fishing, seeing as I was getting married It was also a good idea to chose one sport over the other or I would never be home. John was at my wedding and more than once I would look at him and had all I could to do to keep from laughing while I was up there getting hitched. John had a fantastic sense of humor as many of you know! After that we began to slowly drift apart, I would see john a lot at Quonny and we had some good times there it is also at that time that I introduced my new brother in law “John R” To the habs man, but once I gave up on that place it was less and less, it was about that time that john was devoting much of his time building and perfecting his plugs! He also new I didn’t fish plugs much if at all and so I never really got involved in that aspect of his life, John went on to form other friendships and a little later met many of you here and left a lasting impression! John and I spoke from time to time just to keep in touch and like many of you here the first thing out of his mouth was always “How are you and the wife” “How is your mom and dad” While John could be tough at times he really did have a heart of gold, John never forgot anyone and always cared about the people and friends in his life. John and I recently started talking much more this summer, he was much exited about his new dog and was getting back into training and hunting, he also told me how he had never felt better. When the fishing was so good this past spring John suggested we get together, it never happened and I will regret that for the rest of my life but then again, no one knows what lies in store for us and I could have never predicted a tragedy such as this, I guess from here on out I will do the things I would normally put off because life is to short and to precious.

Yesterday was extremely hard for me, seeing his son as a fine young man now made me proud, I spent lots of time with him when he was very young, I would go over johns house after Christmas day just to play with all the cool toys that they got little john, I think I liked them better than he did!

Many people don’t know the friendship we had, it was before all this internet stuff etc but it was a close one, and I wanted to share it here with all of you, there is more but it would take to much space to write it all!


Rest in peace now John, We will meet again! Thank you for your friendship and a lifetime of countless memories. Your friend. Bill

As a footnote, I regret that I was unable to make the funeral today, It just could not happen as I have my daughter and Have to take her to a doctors appointment today at 11am..I am so sorry I could not be there.

[JohnR]

Thanks for sharing that Bill. You two were certainly close.

This also points a lot to what not as many know, but John was very active in hunting and his dogs as well as fishing. He excelled at all of them.

[Sea Dangles]

Nice Bill.I am sure John would understand. Family first.

[eelman]

This has been one of the strangest seasons I have ever had, While I should be happy...I am not, This past spring and early summer was what I would call "to good" It really took the wind out of my sails...I also had problems with friends because of it, I feel like Things will never be the same..Really made me sick..On top of that I am facing fairly major surgery in January to correct a stomach problem, I am very nervous about it and its on my mind constantly..While I have fished a bit here and there The spark is just not there right now and this passing of john just put a lid on things for me..I am in a bad place.I tried desperatly to have a good time the other day fishing, and all I could think about was getting back home..I dont know what is going on..I dont really have many friends that I would call close..and yes, I chose it to be that way but losing them the way it happened this spring all because of fish has sickened me..and Now losing one to tragedy tops it off...Just an aewfull year in my life..Anyway..I will miss John..and with my own health not the greatest right now It really makes me think..Hope all of you guys have an awesome Fall! and enjoy yourself...Life is way to short and take nothing for granted..As Clammer has said more than once.."Enjoy what you have" Bill

[BigFish]

Mend those fences Bill.......fighting over fish? Not worth it! Keep them good friends if the friendship is worth saving....do it!

[Skitterpop]

Hey Bill,

Thank you very much for sharing the stories. I enjoyed them very much. It helps many of us who knew John very little to flesh out more what he and his life were like.

Like BigFish said, make a few calls or visits. It will good for you and your friends.

Thank you,
Mike

[goosefish]

When I've been in the dumps--divorce, drinking, things like that--I stop fishing. It feels better just to stop fishing than it does to force myself to do something I use to love to do. Then the self-gloom and self-loathing passes and I'm back at it again. But it sure takes more than a weekend.

Go Sox.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by goosefish

When I've been in the dumps--divorce, drinking, things like that--I stop fishing. It feels better just to stop fishing than it does to force myself to do something I use to love to do. Then the self-gloom and self-loathing passes and I'm back at it again. But it sure takes more than a weekend.

i couldn't agree more with goosefish.

take a break.

eventually, the spark will come back.

[piemma]

Bill, thanks fo the story. I knew you were close with John and his family but didn't realize how close until i saw the reaction that John Jr. had upon seeing you.

[stripersnipr]

I'll never understand the animosity big fish can generate. Lucky for us we have calendars to keep the past in the past.

[Swimmer]

Bill,
Thank you for the stories/sharing them with us. All will be well for you.

[Nebe]

bill, theres nothing wrong with catching the fish that you caught this year. What you did speaks volumes about your fishing drive. the friendships that you lost because of it, if based solely on your catches obviously were not friendships that you should have valued in the first place.. If you live your live in a way that leaves you with no regrets and you make decisions that you truely believe are the right decisions, you will never ever have to feel bad about where life takes you or what others will think of you. Trust me on this one, i have put much thought about that in the past few days. If anything as you grieve the loss of your friend, think not of the past and any actions that you may regret, but focus on the future and living your life in a way that leaves others with no opertunity to think otherwise.

lifes too short

[piemma]

Many words of wisdon in this thread. Now, all of you, go fish!

[eelman]

Originally Posted by piemma

Many words of wisdon in this thread. Now, all of you, go fish!

Ok Paulie..Next week..run and gun.....Grab some bunker and go do some damage..You buy the coffee!

[piemma]

Amen Billy. Let the games begin!!!