Something I feel I must correct about my story, Tom did die that day and I do still miss him till this day. I wasn't sure I should include this in the story but after thinking about it I feel I must pass it on.

Tom was a veteran of the Viet nam war where he was a tunnel rat, he crawled into places I can't even imagine and did things I will probably never have the courage to do.
Tom died that day but not in a accident as I told the story, He died by his own hands. He was found at the base of a tree in his back yard with his 45 next to him. I never would have never thought he would have ever done anything like that but the demons of war caught up to him. I felt I had to correct this because there are so many of our warriors who die the same way every day even today. I can only pray someone here will read this and maybe recognize and help a Vet in need.

Back then there wasn't a river I wouldn't put in. There's a small river close to us that has a 14' vertical water fall. I'd seen several guys in kayaks run the fall but never a canoe. This one day there was a group of kayakers gathered around the foot of the falls so I decided here's my chance, if I get in trouble these guys will fish me out. I approached the fall and heard one guy shout there's a fall just ahead pull out. Paying him no mind I stroked right up to the edge and just as the front of my canoe started over, I turned the boat with a hip snap and a quick cross draw with the paddle truing the canoe sideways. I went over stuck my paddle out as a brace and landed ,flop at the bottom then just stroked my way out. Several of the kayakers shouted and cheered and I made several friends right there. I never told them that was my first time over the fall and I never tried it again but boy that one time sure was a rush.

There was a old man in our neck of the woods that didn't fish often, but when he did, he always came back with a limit of the biggest fish in the lake. His neighbor was a warden, and told him one day that he would sure like to catch a few fish like that. The ole guy said hey anytime you wanna go just holler. Warden replied that tomorrow would be good, so the next morning off they went. When they arrived at the lake, the old man rummaged through his tackle box, came out with a stick of dynamite, lit the fuse and threw it in the lake. After a huge explosion fish floated to the surface, and he netted the larger ones. The warden then threw a fit, screaming that you can't do that, do you know how many laws you have broken? While the warden was rambling on the old man dug out another stick of dynamite, lit the fuse and handed it the warden and asked him, "
Are you gonna fish, or stand there talking all day!