Missin' Captain Phil

You might not know that Ive always been a HUGE fan of the show Deadliest Catch. And you probably didnt know that Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie was my most favorite salty ole sea captain. Ive followed him for years, seen him catch tons of crabs, watched him smoke about a billion cigarettes and cringed with every F-bomb he dropped. There was something about him though, that captivated me! Maybe it was his passion for his job - albeit a real job that was very unglamourous! Maybe it was his devotion to his sons, or even those piercing blue eyes. Maybe it was all of the above? Im not quite sure why he became my favorite Captain really, or why I could barely wait week to week to see the next show and what he was doing or saying. Or yelling. I have to admit that we decided months ago to turn our satellite off, so Ive missed alot of recent shows, and Ill probably miss the new season coming up. I did follow up with what was going on the best I could online though. I always wanted to know what Captain Phil and the boys were up to!

Then one day - late January - Id read that Captain Phil had suffered a stroke. While I was very unhappy to hear the news, I wasnt all that shocked. The guys on these boats are pushed to the very extreme limits of what their bodies can handle. Captain Phil smoked heavily, drank tons of caffiene and had recently had some other very serious health issues to deal with. I WAS, however, extremely horrified to hear that he'd passed away at such a young age - just 53 - as a result of a massive stroke. In fact, my heart has been very heavy since then.

Isnt it funny the way a person can affect you, that youve never even met? I never knew him personally, never thought I would - I was just a fan that enjoyed watching him and his crew on TV. And I feel a loss. If I feel a loss for someone I only knew through snipets on a television, I just cant imagine the pain and grief his father and two sons must feel. Ive been keeping them in my prayers and Im sure a good many other people have as well.

Rest in Peace, Captain Phil - sail the high seas of Heaven.


1956 - 2010