My sister was kind enough today to tell me that Deadliest Catch Captain, Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie, has died of a massive stroke.  He was only 53 years old.  The tough as nails crab boat captain was easily liked and respected for his quick wit, brash remarks and no nonsense attitude.  He came by smiles easily, as long as a greenhorn didn't muck up too badly, and shared his adventures with all of us via the Discovery Channel.

I am sure that he will be sorely missed.

Surviving on stale coffee, cigarettes and Red Bull for days on end in order to make the crabbing quota for the season, Captain Phil was a true blue man of the sea.  Aches, pains and the frequent coughing fit were nothing compared to the exhilaration of being out of the great Bering Sea and reeling in pot after pot of those quick, snapping crustaceans.  He was a man of old talents and honor, in a world where we don't often take note of such things.  The community surrounding the Deadliest Catch is the worse for his passing, and shall never find another of his making.  Bless you Captain Phil and the crew of the Cornelia Marie for showing us the way of the sea and making us laugh. 

We thank you.

Author's Note:  I was fortunate enough this past September to meet a few men from the show, Deadliest Catch.  The crew of the Time Bandit were amiable, kind hearted and the kind of men whom you'd like to toss a few drinks back with and swap tales.  They were quick to smile, share a laugh and appreciate the simple, honest good things in front of them.  If they are any testament to the other people on the show, then indeed, we are left hollowed by the loss of Captain Phil. 

If there's a big Bering Sea in the sky... I'm sure he's already wrangled up a ghost ship and rowdy crew to chase down those crab.  Along with a pack of smokes, of course.

A definite tragedy but lets not overlook the man smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day and lived on 2 hrs of sleep a night along with a high blood pressure and Red Bull. While it's noble to provide for your family well, it is irresponsible to abandon them at 57. Everyone look in the mirror.

Lol.  Everyone has their vices and everyone could always make better choices.  However, it seems to me that if you love something... you should go out and do it.  I mean, there's only one thing that's ever certain in life and that's Death.  It doesn't care who you are, what you've been doing, or how many Red Bulls you drink in a day.  Death doesn't care if you're young or old or haven't kissed your wife enough today.  It always wins.  No contest. 

So really, if you love to drink coffee and pull in crab pots and scour the harsh seas for miracles... why not do it?  Life is what you make of it.  If you do what you love and love the people around you fiercely, then going early isn't nearly as sad as it could be.  Because those moments counted.

My own mother just turned 53 (the same age as Captain Phil) and I know if she died today that I'd be wrecked.  But I know how strongly she loves me and if she went doing something she loved, living her life the best way she knew how, I'd feel so much better about her passing than if I knew she hated the things in her life.

But really... I guess it all comes down to, who are we to judge?  The best part about living is that you get to make all the choices for yourself.  You decide how your life is going to turn out, what you're going to enjoy or hate... and how much time you're going to spend riding the wave of that enjoyment.  If he died going out on the crest of that way, then damn... I can only hope to go out like that when it's my turn.

Excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost:

I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return.  Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk,
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.


One could do worse indeed, don't you think?

RIP Capt Phil

The show will not be the same without you

I thought the show went off air? But, RIP Captain Philip Harris, Cornelia Marie.

The show is still in current circulation, around season 9 or 10 now, though they do run reruns all the time.

If you go to the website you can find TV Listings, Episode Guides, Behind the Scenes footage and Blooper Reels.

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/deadliestcatch.html

RIP captain phil you will be missed wont be the same without you