A Toast to my Fisherman

I received an email today from a client of Jonathan's. For this email to make sense, I am going to begin with a string of emails from last year and end with part of an email from last year.
The subject of the emails: Are you still the best guide in Colorado?

June 10, 2009

I had a blast fishing those 2 days with you a year ago on the Platte.  How has the run off been this year and is Cheeseman still fishing a great as ever?  I changed companies again as of the 1^st of this year so I have a new e-mail address.  I’m not sure if you remember, but I left my stuff in your car for a couple of days and in moving things around left my net somewhere.  Did you happen upon a good birch net in a tan bag?

 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.  Hope the fishing’s great.  On a sad note, my dear friend and fishing partner who we toasted last year succumbed to pancreatic cancer in March.  It took him in just 13 months and was brutal.   I’ve attached a pic of him with one of the Lake Erie steelheads he loved to catch near his home in Toledo.  I also attached a picture I came across of Tom when we were fishing with Steve Parrot out of Ashville a few years ago.  I think we were supposed to fish the Watauga but ended up in Tennessee on ??? Share it with Steve if you can and hoist one for a great fisherman. 

June 22, 2009

Hey Ray,

 

Good to hear from you and I am so sorry about your friend.  About your net ....I think I sold it on EBAY last year.  Just joking, I have it in my garage!!!  The Platte has been great, I have been fishing down lower in the Deckers area great caddis and stonefly hatches.  I hope all is well with you and I hope to see you soon!!!!!!  Let me know where to send the net.

 

Peace,

Johnny

Oh and YES, I am still the best guide in Colorado, thanks for asking!

July 29, 2010

Oh great guide and fisherman, how’s the water and what’s new in Colorado? I fished the Yakima up in Washington back in early May and had some good luck on bows and cuts.  However, the fish of the day was a 26” white fish that took over 10 minutes to bring in on a 5 wt.  Don’t worry, I didn’t lower myself enough to take a picture.  In fact I took no pics that day, and left it up to our guide Johnny Boitano.  But, his truck and trailer were stolen the next day, and the camera was in it.  Since there no proof, those fish I caught keep getting bigger every day. I should be holding the state records for both bows and cuts very soon.  

 

 I never got around to retrieving my net.  That must be the reason I’m not catching any fish on my local yokel river.  If I send you a self addressed padded envelope with $10, can you wrap some newspaper around the net, if you still have it, and have you mail it back to me? If so, please send me an address or PO box number.

 

I don’t think I ever sent you the pics from the days we fished outside Deckers so let me know if you want them.  I just tried attaching all of them to thismessage, but it got kicked back for making the file to large.  Take care my friend.

Dear Brianna,

 

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  I’ve been fishing all my life, and 2 of the most memorable days I ever had were with Jon in early June 2008 on the S. Platte near Deckers on a Wednesday, then again on Saturday in Chesseman Canyon. In fact, if I recall properly, you and he were going to a R.E.M  concert that Saturday night that he was really excited about.

 

 I need to explain a couple of  traditions  I have while fishing, and want you to realize how Jonathon became part of that cycle.  My fishing partner Tom Kitz, who lived  in the northern part of Ohio, could not join me on my trip to Colorado in mid 2008 since he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was going to be in California to get fixed up.  Tom and I  celebrated the end of our day on a river with a snort or two of really fine scotch or cognac that I kept away in a silver and leather flax and our guides were always welcome to join in the libration to mark another quality day with our maker. Since Tom was not able to join us that day, I encouraged Jon to have a sip of the nectar, and pose for a picture so I could send it on to Tom to let him know we were thinking of him.  He was okay with me sharing time with a guide, but if it was another fisherman, he accused me of spending time with some fishing whore.  Please find attached a copy of the picture of Jonathon with the aforementioned flask. Every time the flask is raised in the future, Jonathon’s name will be recited with Tom’s.

 

Our other tradition is to share story’s during lunch of the best and worst guide stories we have ever had or heard.  It was during my dissertation of a great story that  a guide told us while fishing in North Carolina that Jonathon said; “Do you mean Steve Parrot, he works out of our shop now.”  Small world.  If I recall correctly,  Jon’s favorite, but weird story was about some old guy that got out of a limo and insisted on going after a certain fish in a certain area.  We shared thoughts on how lucky we were regarding our wonderful wives, what a great time it was being on a  river, and how life was large.  The only good news about this series of events is that Jon and Tom are now fishing together and that stories about both of them will be told for as long as I continue to fish.  Please read the final paragraph in the original section at the bottom of this email thread. Take it to heart and try to move on with your life. 

Tell your loved ones every day how much they mean to you, catch more fish, play more golf and dance as if no ones watching.  Enjoy life as if there’s no tomorrow, because there may not be. (From his original email when his friend, Tom passed).

Disorganization...motivation and stuff

I think I know a reason I have been feeling disorganized- if that's the right word. I miss Jonathan so very much, but I am also lonely. I realize that my life has to continue. I realize that I want to be happy. After 8 months, it is easier for me to see a life with someone else. As much as I would have never ever ever ever ever wished I would be here, I have to try my very best to make the most out of what has been dealt to me.

A friend from work mentioned a guy that she thought would be someone I could go on a date with. He called and left a message. I waited a week to figure out what to do.  Being a widow is a part of me now. I feel like nobody will want to deal with a girl like me - even though I feel like I'm getting along better than most people- thanks to God. I felt compelled to tell this guy who I am. I wanted him to know and then have the opportunity to decide if he still wanted to talk to me or go on a date. I wrote to him on FaceBook and told him who I was, what I was, what had happened, and that I still look forward to life and love. He, being as sweet of a guy as everyone said, wrote back and said he would still like to meet me, and that he is very sorry for what has happened. Anyway, it's been a month and we write back and forth on FaceBook.

He seems like an amazing man and he just told me recently that he is dating someone and that is why he hasn't called. However, he would still like to write and get to know me "if that is okay with me." I, of course, said that I would like to, but that's where I started to feel sad again. I was so happy at the thought of feeling good again. Finding love again.  Feeling butterflies... Nobody can replace Jonathan, but they don't have to. I will forever have Jonathan in my heart, but there's room for someone else. I don't have to stop loving Jonathan to love someone else. We still write to each other, but I can't help but wonder if my life will be like this for awhile. Guy: I can choose to date a widow with a past, a house, animals, and a life that was ripped out from under her, OR, I can choose a girl who has never been married. A girl who won't think about her first wedding day- if she ever got married again. A girl who doesn't have a house full of her husband's stuff. A girl who will love me wholly. It is silly to think that I wouldn't compare someone to Jonathan, because I will... but only to a point. When my ex-boyfriend and I broke up and Jonathan and I started dating, I considered the two of them very, very different but they each had similar qualities. I trusted both of them unconditionally, they respected me, we were open and honest, and we could talk about anything. Nobody is the same- I will never find someone like Jonathan again, and to be honest, I almost don't want to. I don't want to compare someone to Jonathan all the time. I don't want to think: Jonathan was a better cook, Jonathan was a better fly fisherman, Jonathan was a better hunter, Jonathan would do it this way... etc., etc. But... there are things that Jonathan did that are things I would definitely want from someone. Jonathan encouraged me to go out with friends, to go buy things for myself, to get my hair done (even though that only involved a hair cut!), to go for a run, to go for a hike, and to do anything that I enjoyed. It made him happy to see me happy and I couldn't have asked for a better support system.

Long story short...I want to fall in love again. The right person will be the right person and will come at the right time. I want children, but I'm beginning to come to terms that maybe that won't happen. I'm beginning to come to terms that maybe I will never find love again. I have to believe in love. I have to be open to it. While this still feels like yesterday, I do realize it has been 8 months. Is that a long time or a short time? I don't know. I just know how I feel and I want to be happy again.

A few things I remember throughout the day that I don't want to forget:
-Jonathan liked Monte Cristo sandwiches
-When Pearl Jam's Better Man came on the radio, he used to tease me that I "Can't find a better man"
-Jonathan's Green Explorer and Jonathan's Nissan. I remember the sound of the emergency brake being       released in the Nissan. I remember the sound of the Nissan's engine and the sound of the truck pulling up to the house.
-Jonathan cooking. He usually wore a grey t-shirt, for some reason. He would bring spoons over for me to taste and he would say, "what does it need?"  I would tell him and he would either say, "really?" or "good call."
-Jonathan doesn't like Fat Tire too much. He said there was a sweet aftertaste he didn't care for.
-The way he held me and would look into my eyes when I was crying. I just realized it, but Abby, Jonathan's cousin, does the same thing. When they really want you to know something, they stop everything and they make you look at them and they tell you what you need to calm down. Sincerely, and full of love and concern.
-I would cook macaroni and cheese and he never wanted any. Then, when I was done with what I wanted, he wanted to eat what was left.
-We used to go to the Race Car Grill- as we called it. I think it was called Finish Line. It's out of business now but was fun.
-We went to Rox Grill quite a bit to share an appetizer and a beer.
-He introduced me to Barman beer. I have a few Barman beer glasses my parents got for us when they were visiting. Here is a "review" from some person on some website:
OK naysayers, here is an exceptional beer brewed by a major ! 

Barman Pils is only made for the local market and is only available to a select few taverns. 

I had a tour with a VP (a childhood friend) and he took us out for a few. 

Damn good. 

They are required to do a multiple step pour (the proverbial 7 min ) 
and it is outstanding. 

fresh, full bodied, refreshing with a medium finish that is a great balance of malt and very subtle hop. 

I'm telling you, if you are nearby - seek it out. I was skeptical to the point of insulting my buddy - I ate CROW. 

A+

Serving type: on-tap