I couldn't resist this one!
Each spool of thread costs about $1.50 per spool, depending on the thread, of course.
Each spool holds about 200 yards of thread, several hours of meditative time at the tying bench, and an untokld number of dreams and memories.
Each spool holds the promise - and the hope - of the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Each spool moves every fly tyer one fly closer to the awesome perfection of A.K. Best; the innovation of Bob Clouser; the precision of Gary Borger; the understanding of Earnest Hemmingway.
If - not when - you grow "old and have nothing better to do", my young friend, I can assure you that there will be few memories worthy of the spool of thread you now possess.
For you see, thread is not only the first in a series of materiel to be placed upon the altar of our hopes called a hook - it is the stuff dreams are forged from! I am not so sure that I own my thread; perhaps my thread owns me!
I will be 57 by the end of this month - old by your standards. (Remember I was once there, too, and thought the same thing) My "tired, old" eyes have seen things which I hope you never witness; my ears have heard the cries of hunger and despair; my home has been invaded by the homeless and the ruthless. I have been tested and found wanting; yet forgiven.
On those evenings when I must retreat from the world to gain perspective, I sit at my fly tying bench with a simple $1.50 spool of thread and begin to weave a better world where the water is gin-clear, the trout are ravenous, and I have "nothing better to do" than to pray I can be an unobrusive part of it all.
May God bless you! And may your fingers know the joy of your thread!
Doug
Doug,
You should forward this to a tying magazine and hope that it is published so your insightful thoughts can be shared with more then us fortunate souls on this list.
Bart
