typed:
severe snipage ahead
It has been nearly 20 months since I departed without farewell or
explanation from this forum.

Damn straight! You should be ashamed! ;-)

but the sad fact is that I have
given up fly fishing, and consequently had nothing on topic to
contribute.

No cooking tips? Wine selections? Woodworking know-how?

I came to this painful decision in May, 2004 following yet another
spring when family pressures overwhelmed my ability to wet a line with
enjoyable regularity. Every outing became a domestic confrontation.
The stress of having an intense desire to fish without a relaxing
opportunity to do so was killing me. To be honest, the wonderful
camaraderie and resource that is ROFF only made it worse. To learn
what I did not know made the thirst for that knowledge stronger. To
wish for experiences beyond my ability for realization added to the
frustration. The more I stayed here, the more I read of others'
experiences, the more I beat my head against the wall only further
highlighted my continued discouragement with my abilities and
opportunities.

Oh sure - it's all about you. What about us? We love you, man!

On top of that, I was unemployed and fast approaching
broke.

Well, I hope that's behind you - nasty stuff, that.

So, in a nutshell, that's the depressing answer to the question,
"Whatever happened to Joe F.?"

Ah, but you're here now, and that's what counts. I, for one, have really
missed your posts; your compassion; your wit. Although we've never met, I've
always felt a connection with you.

In the intervening time, I've simply done other things, among them
the construction this past spring of a fantastically beautiful 17'
mahogany stitch & glue kayak for #1 son. It was through this avenue
that Kevin Vang recognized my screen name on rec.boats.paddling and
prompted me to stop in & say howdy.

Do more than that - please. The fact is you DID fly fish in your last life
and have a lot to contribute. We'll try not to make you feel *TOO* bad, but
stick around, or at least pop in from time to time. Hell, you can even host
the next DDFS - it's yours for the asking. ;-)

I apologize for my sudden disappearance those many months ago, but I
never liked grand announcements anyway, and I wasn't about to make
one myself.

So, for the present, I am alive and reasonably well. Tight lines to
you all.

Damn, Joe. It's good to see you 'round. Welcome home.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/