To Elwood

[Dave Stewart]

Elwood: I have been on the road the past few days on business....found some time this morning to read some posts..saw this thread. You know Becky and I have you and your family in our prayers. I will be traveling home through the ice today from Ashland...will give you a call after I get home.

[bassin_bug]

Elwood, you DO have some treasures to give to your son and they are right in front of your eyes. Let me tell you what happened in my family. My younger brother loved fishing more than any child I have ever seen and was always first to get into the boat. Dad was a poor man and didn't have a lot of this world's treasures because a 9-1/2 year illness with leukemia had taken everything he owned.

As he was leaving on his final trip to the hospital, he gave two fishing poles and his tackle box full of lures to my brother saying, "These are now yours; take care of them because each one is a reminder of how much I love you. It's time for you to take up where I left off fishing."

After dad's passing my brother would comfort himself with that old tackle box. He could be seen sitting in the workshop with all the lures spread out on a table. He had special stories about fish that either he or dad had caught on each lure. Over the years my brother fished with those lures and seemed to catch fish when nobody else could get a nibble.

A couple of years ago he was killed in Iraq. That old tackle box was handed down to his son and stories of their fishing trips together using those old wooden lures continue to this day.

Things don't have to be big and flashy, or expensive, to be a treasure filled with love and memories. I believe that you and your son will soon be out fishing, making mountains of memories together.

[Redskeeter]

Woody my prayers are with you and your family. And as far as leaving anything for your son, well if you are 1/100th of the man that I met back in December I think that your whole family will have plenty from you for a very long time to come. It's a good fight, keep swinging. Billy please keep us informed.

[Bandit1]

Thoughts & prayers from the Chamness'.

Jason

[FlyLie]

Bump!

[MrSplitshot]

I don't know Elwood but I know Billy and anyone that is a friend of his is a friend of mine. So I'll be asking for a little help from upstairs to pull this man through. See Bassin Bugs last paragraph.......

I second that prowler.

Here's to a successful surgery on account of faith in the good lord, a top-notch doctor behind the knife, luck, or whatever it takes...

Prayers on the way.

[Dave Stewart]

Elwood, just remember what I told you yesterday....your family here and you know how we feel and you know we are with you. God Bless.

[roadrunner]

Elwood my prayers for you and your family you get in there and fight like hell I will see you on Kentucky lake this spring.