Three Men in a Boat
I knew I would never see them again and that their wives, Irma Eaves, my daughter Katharine Dubansky, and daughter-in-law Cathy Shepherd, would never forgive me for letting their fool husbands go off in that big pontoon boat by themselves and drown on Lake Sam Rayburn in a Texas Spring Blow with not a navigator or seaman among them!
'Twas at the 2004 RATASS when Stephen S., Max "Mushroom Man" Dubansky and "Mack the New" set off on a late afternoon fishing jaunt. They followed Fitts and me across the lake to a cove when one of those East Texas blows came up. They immediately recognized their peril and headed home. Problem was, they turned left up the main body of the lake rather than right to the camp. The storm grew worse and worse. Fitts, an ex Texas Highway Patrolman and Lake guide said “Oh Shit”. I just worried.
Fitts went after them but we lost them in the storm. He was clearly worried and I was a nut case. Fitts said there is nothing more he could do but drown us too and headed for the camp. I was ready to call the Coast Guard. After about 30 minutes of fuming and pacing on the shore I finally saw the pontoon boat heading for home. They got there safely but were thankful, wet, cold, and somewhat exhilarated. I of course was churning inside but too glad to see them safely home to be mad. Idiots! Of course, I never do anything dumb.
Catfish Tom the Elder