In 1999's catalogue I reported losing my new vest with 17 fly boxes, all crammed full of flies, nearly 7000 of them. And, a pin given to me by an old friend, a momento he'd present those whom he taught to fish his spring creek. A tattered piece of amadou Dermot Wilson gave me, and leaders, tippets, and fly floatant my Japanese friends brought me. Also patches from "New York Anglers Club", "Fraternal Order of the Flavilinea", and a"Beef is Best" patch given me by friends and club members.

More importantly, with my vest I'd lost my "Good Luck" fly box Ed Zern had taught me to carry, for those times when fishing got tough and all else failed to bring luck. The box was a special Christmas present given me from Jackie, and inside Dave Schultz the maker of my treasured box had inscribed: "Christmas 1981, from Jackie". In this lovely box, Dave had fashioned individual comparments where I kept my treasured good luck flies. These flies were never used, but always carried as my security, to bring me luck. They were tied and/or given me by special friends like: Darwin Atkin, Charlie Brooks, Joe Brooks, Frank Matarelli, John Goddard, Dan Bailey, Nick Lyons, Lefty Kreh, Wayne Luallen, John Juracek, Paul Brown, Harry and Elsie Darby, the Dettes, Eric Leiser and Bob Boyle, Jack Gartside, Herb Wellington, Mike Lawson, Al Troth, Gary LaFontaine, Helen Shaw, and many other talented fly tiers and anglers.

In May 2000, Dave Schultz, the talented maker of the special fly box I'd lost along with my vest came into the shop and presented me with a new -special box he'd made after reading my story in our last catalogue. I opened the new box. In it Dave had printed "Christmas 1981, from Jackie". And, in the tiny compartments were several flies he'd tied along with a few Paul Brown tied shortly before his death. Call me sentimental, but I excused myself to Dave and several customers to "check on some feathers I was dying". I ran downstairs and cried like a baby! Now my vest feels heavy again. A "Good Heavy" with the pleasant weight of fly boxes, flies, other stuff, and new memories. Thank You Dutch, (Dave), Schultz for remaking me the box I treasure(d) all those years. And to those who gave my flies to start my good luck box again! Bob Holmes, Clayton Molinero, Harry Mayo, Ron Landis, Angelo Droetto, Nick Lyons, Aaron Hanson, Rowan Nyman, Geoff Unger, Lew Terwiliger, and others!