Captain Phil

It is unbelievably sad watching 'Deadliest Catch' these days. To see Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie talk to his boys who work on the boat with him, when we all know that he died during filming, is deeply painful. But it is also something wonderful. I am happy the two guys got to work with their dad and share his love of the sea.

Phil must have known something when the end was near. He talked of the future and who would take over his boat. He also told one of his boys that he was a thief and a liar when he caught him stealing pain medication. It was tough to watch him tell his son that he didn't want to see him anymore. How prophetic those words were.

When my own father was dying he was pretty heavily medicated at the end. The night before when we went to see him he held both my mother's and my hand tightly. When he kissed her hand he knew it was the end but waiting to die several hours later into the early morning. That was just the way he was - he hated to feel like a burden to anyone and was thinking about how we would feel if he died when we were with him. He just had that kind of power to will himself to do anything he wanted to.

Phil's family (and Phil himself) insisted that they air the footage of his deterioration because he felt that the 'story needed an ending'. I agree that it is compelling TV. However, that fact doesn't make it any easier to watch.

I have loved this show from the beginning. Seeing a full pot of crabs coming over the deck is exhilarating. I love that sight as much as I love watching sheep shearers taking the wool off a sheep in one piece. As you know I can watch that all day long.

With a show like 'Deadliest Catch' you start to get emotionally attached to the people. They are not characters. This is real life. You live their highs and their lows. Sure the producers pick the footage they want to show but I dare you not to find something interesting every week.

Father's Day is coming up soon. I hope everyone takes sometime to think of their fathers when the day comes. I know I will be a wreck. If you are lucky enough to still have your father in your life, I really hope you don't neglect that relationship. You will never know how much you've lost when he is gone.

Thank you Captain Phil and thank you, Dad.