A Shout-Out for TubeDude

[jamon_negro]

WOW!  Thanks for all the kindly comments.  Good to know that all of my blue letter drivel has not been totally ignored.  And glad I have been able to help a few folks.  As I have grown older I find that I get almost as much enjoys out of helping others catch more fish than simply catching a bunch my own self.

Some of you know my current situation.  Some don't.  I started declining in physical capacity about mid year 2024.  Totally lost vision in my left eye and my hearing got progressively worse.  Then my knees and hips started whimpering every time I walked any distance...or went through the rigors of setting up, fishing, repacking everything and then unloading at home.  About the time I was accepting reality, my wife went through an extended hospital stay and ended up with an ileostomy (colon removal) and acquired an ostomy bag. A few years earlier she had a long battle with ovarian cancer...for which she had major surgeries and two rounds of vicious chemo.  The cancer came back and she elected not to have radiation or chemo.  She was pretty weak.  The next two months were miserable for her...and for me.  Her goal was to hang on until Christmas...for the sake of her beloved grandkids.  But she didn't make it.  She passed on December 8. 

After two months of serving as primary caregiver...up and down stairs all day...I was wiped out...physically and mentally.  My daughter saved my life...literally.  She got me out of the house and moved me in with her and her husband in Saratoga Springs.  It took a while but I am much better now...although not likely to be doing any more fishing.  However, I check in on the board a couple of times a day and try to offer info and assistance when I can.

I really appreciate the ongoing communication with a few folks on the board.  And I am humbled by all of the kindly comments.  Thanks.
 

Hey Pat, it's been a long while since I've been on here but when I saw this post I wanted to add my appreciation.  So sorry to hear about your beautiful wife and your health struggles.  I can't thank you enough for all the information and goodness that you have shared here over the years!  When I was in graduate school you helped keep me sane by teaching me how to pour lead and make some of your awesome fishing lures.  The lures I got from you as well as the ice fishing rod you helped me make are some of my most prized fishing possessions.  I think I even caught my largest trout ever on one of the CopperPat maribou jigs I got from you.  Seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!  

I attached the pic of the tiger trout I caught with your CopperPat jig just to prove it isn't a fish story.  I think that was 2019 so it's been a long time since I was able to visit tubetorium.