Something About Blood and Water

March 5, 2012 Afield and Afloat No Comments

By Jeff Kurrus

A few days ago, my cousin Robert Kurrus and two of his friends were killed in a plane crash in Florida. However, I have no idea who he was.

I have no idea if he fished, or hunted, or what any of his other personal interests were. And while I had no desire to know before last week, I find myself wanting to learn more about him now.

Death, when mixed with familial blood, is a very strange thing indeed.

Especially when this summer Dad’s 80-year old brother Elmer, and his son Kent, will be visiting Nebraska for the first time to northern pike fish. We have fished together before, but it was years ago on a salmon charter off the Pacific Coast.

Once again, I know very little about my cousin Kent who will be sharing a john boat with me at Goose Lake and the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.

Hopefully during those days I’ll learn more about him than whether or not he can catch a fish. Because later on I know I’ll feel shortchanged if I do not.

For more information on Nebraskaland’s Jeff Kurrus, go to jeffkurrus.com.