On Friday afternoon, I was told of a chance of a lifetime. To share my love of fly fishing with a group of men who would appreciate, and be changed by the sport. A chance to buddy up with men who are suffering the ravages of assorted cancers on their bodies.
I went in to be a teacher of fly fishing, and it wasn't two hours into the first day when I quickly realized I was the student. I met a group of men who showed me courage, hope, humility, and gratitude in ways that are rare to see in this day and age.
Early in the day Monday, the volunteer buddies arrived. Most were seasoned veteran buddies, a couple of us were newbies. All of us were accomplished fisherman in one right or other, most just passionate lovers of the sport, and a few of us were professional guides. We had a bit of a briefing on some of the men in the group of participants as to an approximation of their health at the moment. And their previous experience fly fishing. In my immaturity I secretly hoped to get one of the more mobile and seasoned fisherman. But kharma, God, fate, or whatever it is had other plans. And as usual, the end result of God's plan is much better than what I could have ever hoped for.
My first fishing buddy was Bill, a great older guy who had valiantly fought off one cancer, only to be wracked by another. He had seen many things in his life, a few he shared with me. And had the most outstanding outlook on it all. We worked together on his cast, and some of the basics of fishing with a fly. Unfortunately we never got a fish to the net, but I quickly learned graciousness when he shook my hand and thanked me for the lessons we worked on together.
We then went in to lunch, a tasty and simple meal of cheeseburgers, but the real treat were the conversations that abounded. And the smiles solidly etched in every person at the tables faces. We sat eating, and talking excitedly of the mornings fishing and making plans for the afternoon to come. Stories were shared and laughs were had. During lunch I made plans to fish with my buddy for the afternoon's endeavors.
Since Parr, my buddy for the afternoon, was feeling a little tired and needed a nap to recharge a bit. I went with one of Reel Recovery's facilitators to a small pond that none of the participants were on to see if I could figure the fish out a little better. I thought George, the facilitator, and I would both fish but he, a cancer survivor, sat back and watched me fish. And with a little help from the fish I was able to at least appear I knew what I was doing and hook a few, and land a couple nice trout.
Then after about an hour of tooling around on the pond, I headed back to the lodge to meet up with Parr. I got in and he was still in his room resting, so I made myself comfortable and had a nice pleasant conversation with a few of the others in the group. I then was given a chance to listen to some evidence of the strength of each man in the group's character. Including an overwhelming showing of true gratitude.
Parr then woke up and we headed to the same pond I had fished earlier that afternoon. We sat on the banks of the pond him casting out and getting a few eats that we were unable to land, and listening to his stories of his life. Each story was impressive in it's own right as he was a career military man and doctor, who had travelled all over, done so much, tried so many foods, and lived life as some only dream. And now he was courageously facing the ravages of cancer with all the strength anyone could hope to have. Inside, I hoped against hope to help him into not just any fish, but THE fish. And towards the end of it all it happened. He hooked into and landed a beautiful 23-24" Kamloops strain steelhead. The fish fought hard, and Parr angled him like a seasoned fisherman. The day then drew to a close and a few of us volunteer's took off to our campsite for a little libation and fishing to close out the evening.
The next morning we arrived to find that we were a little short on volunteer buddies, so a few of us were going to buddy up with two participants. I was glad to do it, I spent the morning with Tom, and Craig. Two great guys with great stories, and great big laughs. We fished a couple different ponds, and I definitely got my morning's work out in going between them to have small little anecdotal conversations, maybe change up their flies, and to give them little hints to casting a little better, and suggesting new spots on the water to cast towards. Each man got a few eats, had a couple on, and each landed a beautiful Tiger trout. And again laughs were shared, and insights into life were given to me.
As lunchtime arrived, our fishing was done for the retreat. But we had a closing ceremony in which the participants each shared something that they gained from the retreat, and it was then that I was fully hit by the enormity of what I had been a part of. After the participants shared George walked around the circle talking to each man in a very personal and meaningful way. Hardly a dry eye remained as the one on one conversations cycled through and the Event was closed with a final cheer of the program's motto "Be well, Fish on".
As our goodbyes were shared abounding in photos, handshakes, and heartfelt hugs and thanks'. I hope against hope to see all of them some time in the future healthy and full of life. But I know no matter what, the lessons I learned, and the smiles I saw will stay with me forever. I cannot wait to be a part of this again. So until next time. "BE WELL, FISH ON"
