New E(xtra)-core countdown...

[efishnc]

It seems the guessing is over for the lure pattern (coach dog) since I posted it in the pup-E-core thread, but I have another riddle related to the V-day special... besides traditional valentines utilizing red and white, how might these colors relate to another V- icon?

[efishnc]

As a hint, this other V- icon that I mentioned also has a connection to Dr. Seuss.

[efishnc]

...and to the forum.

[Do-it Rep]

Jerry V loved him some Dr. Seuss. 

This riddle has the hat from the cat in the hat written all over it.

[ctom]

Lopsided and full of wrinkles?

[efishnc]

Jerry V loved him some Dr. Seuss. 

This riddle has the hat from the cat in the hat written all over it.

Yes, that is exactly where I was going, and why I referred to tomorrow so much as V-day (rather than valentines day).

2020 marks the fifth year since Jerry left us (though it was actually in July); his final avatar, the Cat in the Hat, was a tongue in cheek reference to his cancer treatments (as well as his previous avatar of Max Headroom)... he was a man that not only appreciated humor, but life in general.  I knew him for roughly five years and have thought about him often in the five since his passing (along with a few other iconic people I have had the privilege of knowing as well).

One of the most profound statements he shared with me was this: "Be appreciative of what's right with your life; in your gratitude is the power to make it even better."  Too many of us are not 'appreciative of what's right with our life' in the here and now, and instead only see it in the rear-view mirror.   On this hallmark holiday of 2020, I would encourage all forum members to see things in red and white as JerryV did... loving humor and loving life, and sharing these things with those around you while you still can, because I am absolutely convinced that "in our gratitude is the power to make it even better".

[ctom]

I've always considered Jerry a blessing. He's given me given me the foresight to deal with some of my medical issues straight on. Tommy Skarlis the same. Like you E, I think of Jerry often and I do not consider him gone, only out of sight.   

[DF]

I only knew Jerry V from the forum but he had a positive impact on my life.  He was a special dude.

[efishnc]

The red and white is about to drop... 12am EST (11pm central)!

[Do-it Rep]

Jerry had a lot of lines and expressions.  I wish I could remember them all.  His humor and zest for life was unparalleled.

And to your point) I resurrected an old boat that Jerry had. Gave it some fresh paint, had the transom rebuilt, new decking the whole 9 yards.  I've had that boat all over since Jerry left us. A few summers ago I got caught out on one of our local rivers in a severe thunderstorm.  Thunder so loud it sounded like war.  I beached the SS Minnow and rode out the wind rain and lightning for over an hour.  Shorts and a T-shirt I was soaked and freezing from the cool air the storm had brought in.  It was pretty miserable, but it was in that moment I remember thinking about Jerry - how he would have really got a kick out of this storm and would have thought beaching the boat and riding it out while sipping on a few of his favorite cold foamers would have been a really great day!

Great post, David.   Sure miss him and like yourself think about him often. 

[efishnc]

Your story of his old boat is a heck of a tribute as well...

I gave away my first boat to a friend a few years back, and man, if that boat could talk... it hauled deer, ducks and turkeys; it saw loads of big bass, cats, muskies, and walleyes; it saw many a camping trip and a few unintentional groundings... and I'm sure Jerry's boat is much the same.  The best part is that both of these boats are still in service and the stories will continue to accrue as time goes on; this type of history (to one who appreciates it) is unequivocally priceless!

[Do-it Rep]

this type of history (to one who appreciates it) is unequivocally priceless!

Exactly, you absolutely nailed it!

[ctom]

if that boat could talk... it hauled deer, ducks and turkeys; it saw loads of big bass, cats, muskies, and walleyes; it saw many a camping trip and a few unintentional groundings...

What seems like an eternity ago I had a small flat bottom that I used during deer season to get to what could best be described as deer heaven on the other side of a river. I [we] used push poles to propel it. I had a chain that we locked the boat to a tree and then hid the poles once we were on the other side. Lots of deer rode back in that little scow. One year we heard a heck of a ruckus back along the river and finally heard three shots then things quieted down again. Come time to leave we found the boat flipped over and the ground all tore up around it and three holes in the hull. Apparently someone thought they could snitch it but when the challenge got to be too much they shot holes in it. I patched the holes and used the boat for several years after that. It still frosted me every time I thought of who could do such a jerk thing to another hunter.  Jerry's old fixer-upper and your remembering all the game carried in your boat brought that incident back just as clear as the day it happened. Those were the days my friend....so the song says. Right Jerry? I know he's listeneing to all of this.

[efishnc]

Come time to leave we found the boat flipped over and the ground all tore up around it and three holes in the hull... It still frosted me every time I thought of who could do such a jerk thing to another hunter. 

Many of us have encountered similar situations of sabotage (especially on public ground), though yours was certainly extreme... it never ceases to amaze me how depraved some people can be.