Say hello to Vivian... I first met her on a remote stream in Michigan's Upper Peninsula about 40 years ago. As I walked along a high ridge, I suddenly spotted this lovely red head skillfully casting to a riser in the shadow of a log jam. Unknown to her, I sat down to watch...
It wasn't long before the pool exploded, and so did Vivian in an eruption of red hair, giggles, and squeals of delight. As she gently released the large brook trout, I worked my way down the slope to "introduce" myself to this lovely girl...
Of course she knew I was watching her all along, for she didn't act a bit surprised when I approached. Vivian was a natural beauty, but as lovely as Vivian was, I couldn't take my eyes from the wonderful split cane rod she cradled in her hand...
That afternoon began a very intense friendship between Vivian and myself, and not one based solely on our mutual love of fishing...
Well, as things tend to go with twenty somethings, Vivian and I gradually drifted apart. I must say, as great a girl as Vivian was, I just couldn't get by the stigma of dating the county sheriff's daughter and she had a hard time with the fact that I was pretty much a shiftless bum living in a tipi and working a minimum wage job without much future...
I'm not sure what ever happened to Vivian, but for my part, I eventually became a responsible (I think) husband, father, fly fisherman, and rodmaker. Oh yeah, I had a day job too!
Vivian did leave me with one lasting legacy however. One day after a long spell on the river she handed me her bamboo rod and asked me for mine. She wanted to know if I wanted to trade. I asked her if she was serious, and she said yes. She wanted to know if I really minded getting the short end of the stick. After all, she had picked up the old Paul Young Driggs rod at a garage sale for ten bucks and she really wanted to try one of the new graphite rods. She gave me that little smile, batted her eyes, and I melted.
Remember, this was 1979...
What Vivian unwittingly gave me that day was a life long love of the split bamboo fly rod, its aesthetics, and its artistry. I still hold that love in my heart today...
Ahh Vivian...
