Back at it
If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times, Seriously, I am the world's worst blogger! Since August I've been meaning to sit and write, and I have. I had some pretty amazing places to sit and write while I was in Alaska. But the words just never got transferred over to my blog. Then, something new would come up, and what I did write was out of date, so in Word it stayed.
But now that summer is (long!) over, the crazy month of September has come and gone, and October has settled upon us, and almost gone, I'm ready to get geared up to write and keep you filled in on all things FV Brenna A and FV Jennifer A, all things Gore Dwyer household and ALS related. Well, maybe not all things Gore Dwyer household as that is so not exciting!
If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times, Seriously, I am the world's worst blogger! Since August I've been meaning to sit and write, and I have. I had some pretty amazing places to sit and write while I was in Alaska. But the words just never got transferred over to my blog. Then, something new would come up, and what I did write was out of date, so in Word it stayed.
But now that summer is (long!) over, the crazy month of September has come and gone, and October has settled upon us, and almost gone, I'm ready to get geared up to write and keep you filled in on all things FV Brenna A and FV Jennifer A, all things Gore Dwyer household and ALS related. Well, maybe not all things Gore Dwyer household as that is so not exciting!
Sitting on the deck of the Jennifer A as we travel back to Ketchikan with a full load of salmon on board.
So, a little bit of cheating
With this blog, I'm going to cheat a little bit. I'm going to use a FaceBook post that I wrote two years ago. It was two years ago that we were approached by Original Productions and asked to become a part of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch." For those that don't know the story, click here.
The short version of the story of how we got here, is ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis...also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. My husband Pat, (also known as Brenna and Sean's dad!) was diagnosed with ALS in June of 2005. In June of 2013, he passed away from his ALS, on his terms. Because of our involvement with "Deadliest Catch," many opportunities to raise awareness and funds have come our way, but those are for another blog...that I will write...I promise!
With this blog, I'm going to cheat a little bit. I'm going to use a FaceBook post that I wrote two years ago. It was two years ago that we were approached by Original Productions and asked to become a part of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch." For those that don't know the story, click here.
The short version of the story of how we got here, is ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis...also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. My husband Pat, (also known as Brenna and Sean's dad!) was diagnosed with ALS in June of 2005. In June of 2013, he passed away from his ALS, on his terms. Because of our involvement with "Deadliest Catch," many opportunities to raise awareness and funds have come our way, but those are for another blog...that I will write...I promise!
Pat and me at Cannon Beach. Thanksgiving 1997.
Back to the cheating
Here is my Facebook post from two years ago, October 24th, 2015:
Warning...crazy lady posting her...just sitting down and having time to process all these emotions...to process, I write! Today was the culmination of one of Pat's dreams...both boats are on their way up to Alaska, to fish crab. He was diagnosed with ALS in June of 2005, and in November, five months later, bought the FV Shishaldan, which he renamed the Brenna A, after his beautiful baby girl Brenna.
(Flashback to the day Brenna was born, Pat was the one who picked Brenna's name from the approved list of girl names we had decided on. Sean Patrick was always going to be Sean Patrick...the only boy name on the list!)
Now, today, the Brenna A is being run by Sean, Pat's handsome son, who, like Brenna, has many many qualities of Pat, that will make him successful in his crabbing adventure. Both kids listened, argued, listened some more and learned so much from Pat.
The Jennifer A has been well taken care of over the years by the amazing friends who became crew, and the amazing crew who have become friends, more like family really.
Here is my Facebook post from two years ago, October 24th, 2015:
Warning...crazy lady posting her...just sitting down and having time to process all these emotions...to process, I write! Today was the culmination of one of Pat's dreams...both boats are on their way up to Alaska, to fish crab. He was diagnosed with ALS in June of 2005, and in November, five months later, bought the FV Shishaldan, which he renamed the Brenna A, after his beautiful baby girl Brenna.
(Flashback to the day Brenna was born, Pat was the one who picked Brenna's name from the approved list of girl names we had decided on. Sean Patrick was always going to be Sean Patrick...the only boy name on the list!)
Now, today, the Brenna A is being run by Sean, Pat's handsome son, who, like Brenna, has many many qualities of Pat, that will make him successful in his crabbing adventure. Both kids listened, argued, listened some more and learned so much from Pat.
The Jennifer A has been well taken care of over the years by the amazing friends who became crew, and the amazing crew who have become friends, more like family really.
Never in a million years did we think things would work out the way they are working out...without Pat here and ALS having sliced through our life, cutting us deeper than we could even imagine.
But we promised Pat we would carry on, get the Bren fishing crab, and keep the Jen fishing along side of her. We've had so much help from family and friends along the way. But mostly, it was the plan and business that Pat put into motion for us.
Pat wanted the Brenna A to fish crab, that was his goal when he bought the boat...he just ran out of time because of his ALS. The unconventional way we were able to get the Brenna A fishing crab, makes us realize that Pat is still a part of what we do! Pat never did things the conventional way, and always thought outside the box...the rest of us scrambled to help make his ideas come to fruition.
It's been a crazy crazy few months getting both boats geared up. It's been a crazy crazy unbelievable 2 years and four months since Pat decided he was done with his ALS. We've tried our best, and I think Pat would be proud...mostly of his kids...he loved them so.
But we promised Pat we would carry on, get the Bren fishing crab, and keep the Jen fishing along side of her. We've had so much help from family and friends along the way. But mostly, it was the plan and business that Pat put into motion for us.
Pat wanted the Brenna A to fish crab, that was his goal when he bought the boat...he just ran out of time because of his ALS. The unconventional way we were able to get the Brenna A fishing crab, makes us realize that Pat is still a part of what we do! Pat never did things the conventional way, and always thought outside the box...the rest of us scrambled to help make his ideas come to fruition.
It's been a crazy crazy few months getting both boats geared up. It's been a crazy crazy unbelievable 2 years and four months since Pat decided he was done with his ALS. We've tried our best, and I think Pat would be proud...mostly of his kids...he loved them so.
Click. Fast Forward to King Crab 2017
So here we are, two years later. We are starting our third season with Discovery's "Deadliest Catch." This year, as in past years, we have a great hard working crew, a trusted vessel, and a thoughtful determined, but realistic (safety first) Captain. King Crab season is in the books, and up next is Bairdi.
Plus, we are four years into life without Pat, our anchor. I continue to be so proud of Brenna and Sean. They have their father's attitude of "get it done," and have stepped up big time, to many different challenges. Best kids ever.
If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times. We are thankful and grateful beyond words for this opportunity that "Deadliest Catch" has given us to tell our story and raise awareness and funds for ALS research at ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI.) ALS TDI is the "world's foremost drug discovery center focused solely on ALS." To learn how you can help make a difference, click here
So here we are, two years later. We are starting our third season with Discovery's "Deadliest Catch." This year, as in past years, we have a great hard working crew, a trusted vessel, and a thoughtful determined, but realistic (safety first) Captain. King Crab season is in the books, and up next is Bairdi.
Plus, we are four years into life without Pat, our anchor. I continue to be so proud of Brenna and Sean. They have their father's attitude of "get it done," and have stepped up big time, to many different challenges. Best kids ever.
If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times. We are thankful and grateful beyond words for this opportunity that "Deadliest Catch" has given us to tell our story and raise awareness and funds for ALS research at ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI.) ALS TDI is the "world's foremost drug discovery center focused solely on ALS." To learn how you can help make a difference, click here
Thanks for your patience!
I know this is blog is short but I really wanted to reconnect with all of you, and let you know that I'm still here, and have many inspirations for future posts. As the crab season moves forward, I plan on keeping you up to date on what's happening there, as much as I can.
But also, to fill you in on what happened over the summer, the CRAZY month of September as we did work on the Brenna A in Seattle, what it takes to get the boat ready to go crabbing, opportunities that arise, challenges that will come along, about life on the Bering Sea and all things in-between that make this Crabby Mama happy, sad, joyful and yes, crabby!
Here's to safe travels to all those upon the Bering Sea, and all waters.
I know this is blog is short but I really wanted to reconnect with all of you, and let you know that I'm still here, and have many inspirations for future posts. As the crab season moves forward, I plan on keeping you up to date on what's happening there, as much as I can.
But also, to fill you in on what happened over the summer, the CRAZY month of September as we did work on the Brenna A in Seattle, what it takes to get the boat ready to go crabbing, opportunities that arise, challenges that will come along, about life on the Bering Sea and all things in-between that make this Crabby Mama happy, sad, joyful and yes, crabby!
Here's to safe travels to all those upon the Bering Sea, and all waters.
RSS Feed