We had our Nottoway River tournament on Sunday, Septemer 9, but my heart was not into it and I just really did not care.

My good friend died this past week at the Medical College of Virginia after shoulder surgery.

He had a blood clot to the brain while in recovery on Friday, August 31st and the family finally pulled the plug on him on Wednesday, September 5th.

The funeral is today.

He was 61 years old.

We were planning a fishing trip at Langley Air Base for October and he was very excited thinking about retiring next year and doing some traveling with his wife.

I should have been throwing frogs over the pads and small buzzbaits through the structure and pads but I just threw a screwed up shaky head rig and some Senkos.

I had strikes but I just did not set the hook in time.  I did catch one on a pink trick worm above the pads but that was all I got.

Fishing was hard, anyway, due to the tropical depression that moved through the area while we were fishing. I just stood there, getting soaked and thinking that I could get soaked and that I was fishing while my friend was not, nor would he ever fish again.

I did not socialize with the guys either the Saturday night before the tournament or the day of the torunament.  I loaded my boat on the trailer and left during the weigh-in. I was not in the mood to joke around and poke fun at each other.

I was not even feeling like boasting about LSU's crushing of Virginia Tech, 48-7.

I guess the one moral to this story is to be close to your family and friends and do things, now. You never know what is around the corner.

Im sorry for your loss. Your friends in a better place.

God's speed in dealing with your loss.  Life seems to always put football and fishing in perspective.  

Rod

Sam,

Sorry for your loss. I won't say the pain gets better with time, because it doesn't--but as time passes the good memories do get better.

Jon

Sam,

Sorry for your loss. I won't say the pain gets better with time, because it doesn't--but as time passes the good memories do get better.

Jon

I don't think it can be said any better.  My sympathies for your loss.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Very sorry for your loss, Sam

Sam,

Sorry for your loss. I won't say the pain gets better with time, because it doesn't--but as time passes the good memories do get better.

Jon

Well said.  While you didn't wanna sit and poke fun at these guys, you will look back at all the fun times you had together soon enough and be happy knowing you were able to make such a great impact on that one persons life.  Don't cancel that trip, go by yourself... he'll be there in heart.  While it's hard to move on I'm sure he'd want you to be out there doin' what you guys do best.  Just don't forget to reel one in for him too.

Look to the good Lord for your strength Sam.

Losing loved ones is never easy nor should it be.

I pray that God will touch you and your family through this tough time.