I don't know exactly how to put this--and that's why it is not in the For Sale department--but is there any Forum member who feels they really
"need" a Gillum or a Dickerson? I think it took me 20 years to latch on to my first one because I was always a day late or a dollar short. Today I
have one each in 8-foot models, the Dickerson a three-piece 801510 D and the Gillum also a three-piece for 5 weight line.
Unfortunately, terminal ill health has forced me to admit the time has arrived for these great rods to move along to someone who will enjoy fishing them as much as I have, and hopefully for many more seasons. So 43 years of fishing exclusively cane rods will come to a close sometime early this summer and they tell me and there is nothing I can do about it. I've not set price on either of them because that's not the important thing at all. What is important is that they find good homes with fly fishermen who will fish them regularly and not turn them into wall hangers. And that every time the line goes tight, someone says, "Thanks, Pete, for the opportunity to keep this classic where it belongs--on this stream, in my hand, at this moment."
write me direct: petejurgensen@aol.com
------- WELL, TOMORROW is August 26th, 2009, the "statistical probability date" the team of docs cited when they sat me and my wife down to present the grave news that my cancer would probably take me "around" that one year mark.
Since the hospital had "slipped up"--or as the head of Patient Safety said, "Someone screwed up royally," they had never told me about the August 26, 2008 diagnosis date until I went to see my Primary Care Physician on February 5th this year because I was feeling lousy. She pointed to my chart on the computer and said, "What is this? Why wasn't I notified? What are you doing about treatment?" to which I responded "What are you talking about?"
There in all CAPITAL letters it said "UNEXPECTED FINDING, apparent metastatic lung cancer, primary unknown."
For a guy who has never smoked in his life, 16 lung tumors, the largest 2.55 inches in diameter, and a diagnosis of Stage IV "nothing we can do," prompted my earlier post. I am still around, but like most football players on Sundays, I'm now in the NFL--Not For Long.
The slide down the slippery slope clearly began about three to four weeks ago and was confirmed yesterday by my doc. I've done as much cane rod fly fishing as I've been able while trying to plan my business transition to protect my wife and 10 employees for at least awhile. But next week it's Hospice care to help a bit with my breathing difficulties.
I am still determined to fish locally a couple hours a day as long as I can as we have 6 miles of trout water running through the middle of town. I've had many suggestions as to what to do with the rods, but none has yet "hit a home run."
I will be selling all my other rods--those not on my fishing rotation list--over the next few weeks as clearly, "the time has come, and I cannot deny it even to myself any longer."
To all you folks on this Forum I sincerely say I never expected such an outpouring of support, and now with real tears rolling down my cheeks, I thank you one and all. The rods WILL find a good home, I assure you. You can't believe how moved I have been by your expressions of support and your prayers.
I think most people feel they will be taken by sudden death--a heart attack, highway crash or an unpredictable accident. I always thought that would happen to me because my father and my wife's father both went down with heart attacks.
I survived kidney cancer in 1995 and a heart attack in 2002 as well as a major aortic aneurysm in 2005, but none of that makes you any more "bulletproof" than the next guy. I lost 45 lbs after the 2002 "knock down" type heart attack and kept it off for the last seven years, but there are things we miss or can't control.
Just remember, as a former EMT, I've always said, "If you are over age 50 and you think you may be sick as a result of the slightest sign or symptom, you most likely ARE SICK, and track it down even if it takes several different docs.
With all my heart I say no one--even family--has been more supportive and sympathetic than those on this Forum who have contacted me directly or posted best wishes.
And I wish you all few more days on a beautiful trout stream as I enjoy my last days in Vermont with the Dickerson and my Gillum. Thank you all again. Thank you and may God go with you . . .
Pete
Unfortunately, terminal ill health has forced me to admit the time has arrived for these great rods to move along to someone who will enjoy fishing them as much as I have, and hopefully for many more seasons. So 43 years of fishing exclusively cane rods will come to a close sometime early this summer and they tell me and there is nothing I can do about it. I've not set price on either of them because that's not the important thing at all. What is important is that they find good homes with fly fishermen who will fish them regularly and not turn them into wall hangers. And that every time the line goes tight, someone says, "Thanks, Pete, for the opportunity to keep this classic where it belongs--on this stream, in my hand, at this moment."
write me direct: petejurgensen@aol.com
------- WELL, TOMORROW is August 26th, 2009, the "statistical probability date" the team of docs cited when they sat me and my wife down to present the grave news that my cancer would probably take me "around" that one year mark.
Since the hospital had "slipped up"--or as the head of Patient Safety said, "Someone screwed up royally," they had never told me about the August 26, 2008 diagnosis date until I went to see my Primary Care Physician on February 5th this year because I was feeling lousy. She pointed to my chart on the computer and said, "What is this? Why wasn't I notified? What are you doing about treatment?" to which I responded "What are you talking about?"
There in all CAPITAL letters it said "UNEXPECTED FINDING, apparent metastatic lung cancer, primary unknown."
For a guy who has never smoked in his life, 16 lung tumors, the largest 2.55 inches in diameter, and a diagnosis of Stage IV "nothing we can do," prompted my earlier post. I am still around, but like most football players on Sundays, I'm now in the NFL--Not For Long.
The slide down the slippery slope clearly began about three to four weeks ago and was confirmed yesterday by my doc. I've done as much cane rod fly fishing as I've been able while trying to plan my business transition to protect my wife and 10 employees for at least awhile. But next week it's Hospice care to help a bit with my breathing difficulties.
I am still determined to fish locally a couple hours a day as long as I can as we have 6 miles of trout water running through the middle of town. I've had many suggestions as to what to do with the rods, but none has yet "hit a home run."
I will be selling all my other rods--those not on my fishing rotation list--over the next few weeks as clearly, "the time has come, and I cannot deny it even to myself any longer."
To all you folks on this Forum I sincerely say I never expected such an outpouring of support, and now with real tears rolling down my cheeks, I thank you one and all. The rods WILL find a good home, I assure you. You can't believe how moved I have been by your expressions of support and your prayers.
I think most people feel they will be taken by sudden death--a heart attack, highway crash or an unpredictable accident. I always thought that would happen to me because my father and my wife's father both went down with heart attacks.
I survived kidney cancer in 1995 and a heart attack in 2002 as well as a major aortic aneurysm in 2005, but none of that makes you any more "bulletproof" than the next guy. I lost 45 lbs after the 2002 "knock down" type heart attack and kept it off for the last seven years, but there are things we miss or can't control.
Just remember, as a former EMT, I've always said, "If you are over age 50 and you think you may be sick as a result of the slightest sign or symptom, you most likely ARE SICK, and track it down even if it takes several different docs.
With all my heart I say no one--even family--has been more supportive and sympathetic than those on this Forum who have contacted me directly or posted best wishes.
And I wish you all few more days on a beautiful trout stream as I enjoy my last days in Vermont with the Dickerson and my Gillum. Thank you all again. Thank you and may God go with you . . .
Pete
