It’s a rare day when I have to bury my fingers in my coat to thaw them out; guess I’ve been blessed chill-resistant digits. But, man, today, I punted when both sets of gloves, soaked through with windswept rain, then frosted with snow, gave up the ghost.
“How will Tom, my former colleague and wonderful friend, fare in this stuff?” I wondered. Pretty shaky, actually, until I put him into some Windstopper fingerless gloves; from then on, he pressed on, toughing it out through some classic, nasty steelhead weather.
For the record, I’ve never met anyone—that’s right, no one—who gives more to others, who works more hours for the betterment of an entire community and his employees, and who lives out a more credible Christ-faithful life than Tom. He is my walking, talking operational definition of hero. Hence, I look forward to getting him away from it all to float the river if for no reason but to see him refresh and renew. Way overdue for a day off—dating all the way back to September—Tom let it all go today as he lost himself in staying warm, casting, line management, and, thankfully, fighting steelhead—all interspersed with laugh-punctuated recollections of days together past.
So, hat’s off to you, Tom. Fly rod in hand, you prevailed over all Mother Nature threw your way. Loved it.
Captain Tom Kuieck
