So it does...

Hi all,

Just received a PM from rapala11... He was kind enough to point out to me that, even though I'm living 1000+ miles away, my heart still belongs "up here"

So it does...

To all my friends I've neglected: I'm sorry.

I know, I've been busy/depressed/overworked/stressed...

Still, not any kind of excuses to lose touch with my friends. And you are. Everyone I've met - either here or on the lake or tribs - you're all my friends.

I haven't found any like you down here. Honestly.

It hurt a lot not to be able to make it to the one fly...

It hurt to know all the facebook messages and emails I've received and not answered. I know I should have...

Though too - It felt good every time I'd see someone post a facebook pic of a great chromer. Pics of flies. Pics of friends.

I've been home too little, it seems. This move - it wasn't the best thing personally but it was something I had to do...

It's just temporary... Home isn't here...

It isn't that this place is bad or that I hate being here in Jacksonville, it's that I hate not being "up there". Not just Erie, but where I'm from. Seems most people I've know around where I grew up couldn't wait to leave. Me, well, I'm trying to find my way back.

Slickfish pointed out something to me in the summer (the one time since moving that I got to see Lake Erie). He said something along the lines of, putting my work first and putting my family second is sometimes actually putting my family first. I had to do this - even if for a year or so. When I moved it was the only option I had. There's a lot to it - and those of you who know me closest know more, but against everything in me that wanted to say, I had to go.

Moving away from a family that loves me...
Moving away from a good woman who loves me like no one I've ever been with... (And still does!)
Moving away from a group of friends that I had only known for a little over a year - barely knowing some of you, you treated me like I belonged. fast found friends who shared their food, fishing spots, laughs and time with me.

All for work in a strange place to bust by b@lls 60-70 hours a week. But it's working out. Light at the end of the tunnel. :-)

So, "Enough of my whining and belly-aching," I thought. It hasn't been "too long" to take advice, come back and say hello to my dear friends.

Thank you to everyone who sent me hi's, hello's, how are you's and were kind enough to remember me.

Great folks, all of you.

Now, post some silly pictures of me and poke fun. I deeply deserve it, lol

Harry

Harry - We've never met but hopefully someday we will. You've made the move for all the right reasons.... and you want to return for all the right reasons also. Not many are willing to sacfrifice the way you have but one thing I've learned is that time passes by us so **** fast. And you will get back to your home. And you will get back to your friends. And you will feel the current against your legs once again. It truly sounds like this is where your heart is and noone or nothing can ever take that away. At some point..... we all return. You take good care of yourself my friend and look forward to the day........

Good to hear from you man...
Chin up it will work out, life always does..
Now for one of those silly pics....
 

Harry,
You were missed at the "One Fly"! But don't worry; there will be others! MAybe someday when I'm in FLA We can meet up and you can show me someplace to catch some spanish mackerell in the surf.

Harry , Good to hear from ya. Let us know when ya get back up in these parts and we will hit the water.

The Deetz

ORIGINAL: bingsbaits

Good to hear from you man...
Chin up it will work out, life always does..
Now for one of those silly pics....

By the way, where do we send the order forms for our uniforms? What's the deadline to send them in?

Only went fishing here once. It was for red though. Boss took me on a guided trip. Not too bad.

My first red:


The Florida version of sheephead (this is my boss):


The sheephead here are nothing like the sheephead there. They're one of the best tasting fish I've ever had!

Those sheephead ARE MUCH better eating though! Good to hear from you again Harry...hope all is well and hope to see you soon - the pin outing is getting bigger and better, hope you can make it back next year bud, we missed you. Take care.

~Paul

Yeah!!! Those things were F-ing good!

I am total opposite to you Harry. I come from a warm climate and can do without ever seeing snow OR 30 deg ever again....but I am stuck here in this grey and miserable place....dreamin'....would love to be where you are in those pics...forever...

harry i used to work at the coffee shop you frequented in hermitage and never knew you fly fished. hope you get into some fish down there. they have killed bass.