My Paddle Dreams of Brighter Days


Photo-A-Day #2973

Today I was supposed to go paddling with a group of people down the Ten Mile River. Well, it was raining most of the morning so the trip got cancelled. However, the rain was due to let up and I went paddling out on my own on Falls Pond instead. I hadn’t been paddling in over a year so I really was itching to get back out there. I also wanted to get some quiet time to do some thinking. I learned some very sad news yesterday.

I learned that a friend of mine from High School died on Monday in a motorcycle accident. His name was Michael Balboni. He was a year ahead of me in school. We spent a lot of time together, theater, Junior Achievement, even the school bus. He was someone that I looked up to and despite not having contact since High School I still felt a deep sadness and loss upon hearing the news. I learned about his death from another friend on Facebook and in his update he mentioned that they would go fishing together. So fishing out on the water seemed a fitting place to be so I could reflect. As I decided to leave I made one more cast and caught my only fish of the day.

My first Bass of 2013

Thanks Mike, you will be missed.

4 thoughts on “My Paddle Dreams of Brighter Days”

  1. Morning Drew, Sorry about Mike. I remember him, he was always a very personable guy. I was on that road riding with Dale not long ago, there are some real sharp curves.Nice fish, you do have a fishing license? We need to get out on the water this summer.

    1. Dad,

      I used to ride that area as well back when I had a bike. Talking with you tonight I recall that exact location.

      I’ll remember Mike from our JA days and our theater days.

      I have a license, it is from 2011, and one from 2012 I have to get a new one.

  2. Drew – Sorry to hear about your friend 🙁

    I am glad that you went paddling though 🙂 I have been canoeing a lot in the last month and it made me think of you kayaking. I was wondering when the last time you went kayaking was – looks like recently 🙂

    1. Courtney,

      I was beginning to wonder if you were taking up residence at Disney as their new Canoe tour guide. I love that you go to Disney to canoe the bulk of the day. That is so cool.

      Thank you for the sympathy. Mike was a hell of a guy.

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