On the Water Log, February 6, 2013
February 6th, 2013After thinking about how to go about making this public for several weeks now, I have decided to just be blunt: I have been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. After a battery of tests, the doctors determined that it has spread to a couple areas. I just came home from a week at Swedish, where they dealt with a severe infection that I developed, and I had minor surgery in preparation for chemo and other treatments. They will begin as soon as all trace of the infection is gone. If things go well, I will then have radiation and, ultimately, surgery.
I have a great doctor and team at Swedish, and they are optimistic. I also have a great local doctor in Port Townsend, who found the Swedish team for me.
Of course, all of this will take a while. I probably won’t realistically be guiding again until late spring or summer, and I definitely won’t make the Fly Fishing Show this year, which I really was looking forward to. After consulting with Jeff and Ron, I have decided to postpone Cutts and Chum, which was scheduled for March 23/24. If things go well and I have the energy, I may try to hold it in early or mid-April. But that’s as much in my doctors’ hands as my own, at this point. I’ll let you know.
I am going to keep the blog up and will post pieces my friends send me or little things I see, but I am not expecting to do much original work. And I won’t be answering any emails.
Finally, I really want to acknowledge the truly wonderful responses I have received from my close friends when I gave them the news. To a person, they have been incredibly generous–with offers of rides and help and, well, anything. Having friends like Ron and Jeff and Joe Uhlman, Dave Steinbaugh, Les Johnson and Carol Ferrera, Leland Miyawaki, Jack Devlin, Preston Singletary, Jerry Bamburg, David Christian, Chester Allen and Bob Triggs is as important at times like this as good doctors and medicines.
Most of all, my wife, Eliana, has been a tower of strength and love and compassion.
I am a lucky guy.


