Friday, July 15, 2011

Gone Fishing...dominating Life

The fight last summer was focused strictly on aggressive treatment to dominate Myeloma, but this summer it has turned to smallmouth bass. After 3 years of thinking about and taking on Myeloma with heavy treatment, and at times, a heavy heart, this summer feels like it is a rebirth of passions that are part of a thick core of who I am.


The cancer forced me to re-evaluate everything, specifically where I spend my time and energy, not banking on that I will have the next 30-40 years to figure out life. Through this process of reflection spent during chemo infusions up at B1 and two week hospital stays on 8A, I have discovered what I am good at, my strengths. That has been helpful, but I have been lacking an ability to simply enjoy life. Much of it has been centered on domination, and not vacation. Below is me at age 7 showing the recent fishing domination.


I had a breakthrough by spending over a week up north (northern Michigan for non-michiganders) with my family at a park that has been the relaxing vacation spot for the Brabbs' family all the way back to my great-grandfather who would take my grandfather up there when he was a boy. Here are some photos of my revisiting one of my passions...camping/fishing up north. I am thankful that my focus can now move towards dominating life by enjoying one of my greatest pleasures.

The big kids and me heading to get ice cream at the store.

Me catching crayfish underneath rocks up at the dam. We use them for bait.

Iris and me relaxing on my parent's pontoon as we go for a boat ride.