Byard, Your post has made me make a decision on the rod. The story on the rod: Murf has been talking to me for several years about making him a rod. Some months ago he decided it would be a bamboo rod. I told him he could pick it up when he came to the Sowbug, I would take him to the Creek so we would wet a line.As luck would have it, due to some heart problems I had, I was not able to finish the rod. All it lacked was the last coat of varnish. Murf told me not to worry about it, he planned on coming back in June with his wife and spend some time here visiting and fishing bamboo with me. I will finish the rod before June. The rod will be taken to the Creek and fished in June in his memory. This rod was to be passed down to his new grandson,Anthony ( born while he was here at the Sowbug) when he passed on. It all happened too soon. Murf did get to see the rod and held it. I wanted him to cast it in the back yard but he wanted to wait till it was finished. His name had already been written on the rod, this rod belongs to him. Tony
--- Byard Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > A bunch of you have asked for further details on > Dave's passing. I > really don't have much to offer except that I did > talk to Lena last > night. Apparently Dave was admitted to the hospital > on Tuesday with > heart problems. Lena spent the rest of the week with > him there and > complications occurred. Dave passed away peacefully > around 4 AM on > Saturday. > > Lena is doing as well as can be expected. She's > surrounded by David's > and her family. I'm so proud of Sara, the youngest, > as she''s been > the stalwart. She's contacted as many of Dave's > friends as possible, > she's fielded phone calls and she's supported her > Mom through the > ordeal. She's a great kid! > > In case you missed earlier posts, the service will > be held on > Saturday the 22nd at 10 AM at... > > Emmanuel United Church of Christ > 124 Broadway > Hanover, PA 17331 > > In lieu of flowers donations may be made in David's > name to the Saint > Jude's Children's Hospital. > > And once again condolences may be sent to... > > Lena Murphy and Family > 14126 Harrisville Rd > Mount Airy MD 21771-7914 > > The shock of losing one of my very best friends is > waning now. > Instead today has been filled with a cascade of > memories. Murf > returning to the car, covered head to toe in mud, > one hip boot being > dragged behind. Clip clop. clip clop. Sitting on the > back porch of > his cabin, sipping a fine cab, shelling peanuts (hey > - don't knock it > until you've tried it) and listening to Dave's many > stories. Yes, I > said listening. It was always a challenge to get in > a word edgewise > with Dave. Or instructing my friend that it's four > minutes, NOT > twenty, that you allow fresh, tender July corn on > the cob to boil! > And then there was the day on the Breeches. I had > headed downstream > expecting Dave to tag along. Hours later, having not > heard from him, > I fished my way back. There he was, at the outlet of > the "Ditch", > fishing. I remember asking why he was still there > and how he had > done. He was frustrated and said that he was > fishless but couldn't > leave because of the fish in sight. I said "like > that one?" as I made > a quick flip cast, hooked and landed a nice 16 > incher. Three fish on > my line after that, Dave was ready to head home! It > was fun to > torment Dave that way...but it was only out of > fondness. I could go > on forever with stories as there are so many, But a > bit about Dave's > family. There is no doubt that Lena and Dave were in > love, it was > almost teenage like. You could see it when they were > together, you > could hear it in Dave's conversations. Only second > to that was Dave's > love for his kids. I only had the opportunity to > meet Sara and Paul. > With one bat of the eye Sara could win the heart of > all she > encountered. Paul seemed to know that and remained > aloof, confidant > in the fact the he as well had his parents love in > tow. > > You folks have expressed an interest in some sort of > a tribute fly in > Dave's memory. I applaud you for your efforts and > well wishes. Please > don't consider me as being selfish or uncaring, but > I'm going to do > something a bit different. I am indeed going to tie > one of Murf's > favorites. And then I'm going to go out and catch a > trout on that > fly. After which, it will be retired...not just the > fly, but the > pattern. Much in the same way as a sports star has > his jersey number > retired. I will then write a nice long letter to > Lena and the kids so > that they will know that I am still thinking of my > friend Murf and > his loved ones. > > There's a pool on an unnamed stream in an unnamed > state that Dave > would stand at and fish for hours. He'd work it > upstream and he'd > work it down. That unnamed pool on that unnamed > stream will forever > and always be referred to by me as Murf's Pool. When > I visit it next, > I will fish it upstream and I will fish it down, and > I will think > only of Dave. Rest in peace my friend. > > ...byard > > > > Byard Miller > Line's End Inc <http://www.linesend.com> > Virtual Flybox <http://www.virtualflybox.com> > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
