As fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, employers, employees we have alot of folks depending on us. I hope this makes all of us think about if we have our ditch bag for life in order if we don't make it home some day. Here goes.

1. Get right with the Man upstairs. If you are not sure how, talk to someone, spouse, mother, friend, pastor about it. IMHO nothing is more important. You may disagree with me which I fully respect. It is funny though that when things go bad that He is the 1st place we usually turn to. I'm guilty of this. Now I'm working on turning to Him all the time, but I have a long way to go.

2. Get some life insurance if you have people who depend on you economically. If you are gone you income is gone. Talk to your property and casualty person or someone you can trust in this area.

3. Get a will.

4. Make sure you have the proper beneficiaries on your life ins, pensions and 401K. You don't want you ex-wife getting a dime all because you forgot to change a simple beneficiary form.

5. Put your important papers ( life ins, will, investment info) in a place where your spouse/ children can get them easily and write a note telling them what to do and who to contact immediately.

6. Make things easy on the family. Tell them what you want done for your funeral.

7. This one is easy for some and hard for some. Tell your wife, your kids, your parents, friends, whoever that you love 'em. A longtime friend of 30 years lost his daughter in a car wreck on Good Friday a few weeks ago. She was seventeen. I asked him what could I do for him and his wife and he told me to hug my kids and tell them I love them everyday.

8.This one is just hard. If you have a beef with someone, sit down, suck it up and talk to them. I have people come into my office who have not spoken to their own kids over many times trivial matters. Foregiveness is tough. I'm not very good at it, but I'm trying. No relationship works without good communication and if that someone was gone tomorrow and you had not gotten things streight you would probably regret it. I know I have.

These things are not easy on this list. Doing what is right is often difficult, but we need to step up as men and look after the folks that depend on us. Please continue to pray for Jack's wife, family and everyone who was on the boat saturday. If anyone else has good info to add please do.

Very good words to live by.

Mark

JTB,

Man you hit it on the head

Some of you guys know me and some know that I lost my son at the age of 19. Four years this July. I had just got home from a trip to Italy and got to spend 1 1/2 days with him before his calling. I'll never forget, I had shook his hand and he gave me a hug and said "You were missed". You all know us guys are tuff and we dont show much affection. But with that being said, I'll never forget those words.

From that stand point on. I take the time to tell all around me what I'm thinking. Some good, some bad. I dont go to bed mad anymore, I enjoy my morning coffee with the wife, and when I'm at sea sometimes I enjoy my moments with David. My friends are friends and I let them know how important they are. I dont argue with anyone, I dont have the time. I spend my efforts on good things. It sometimes takes an a$$ kick'en to turn stubborn guys around. I had mine July 6th 2004.

As JTB mentioned in this post. Have your ditch bag ready. Alot of people depend on us. Even people you would never imagine do. Have all your paperwork easily accesable to your loved ones. When its your calling you have to go. You wont have time to get your gear ready.

And everyday before you walk out of the house. Tell em you "Love Them".


To Jack's Family:

We have you in our thouhgts & Prayers.

Capt. Scott

Well said and it looks like I have some work to do.

Wow...good info....thanks.....Bob

Hey Barry.. we ALL have some work to do. As a financial advisor I see alot of people failing to plan for something that will happen to us all. Life is short. Fish hard and take care of the ones that matter the most to you.

Great words we should all live by. Thanks for the needed sermon.

I sometimes joke that I get my religion when I am out on the water....I guess I should work on it on land too.

Good advice.........how true.

Theses are great thoughts. This is also another gift that Jack has given to us as we think about how suddenly things can happen. We all need to make the most of this precious gift of life and help others do the same.
Live better, fish better.
Dave