We Made It!

There is a canvas in front of me, not one but two of the same stag. Both images depict being caught up in the moment when life radically changes; a once regal, soft eye now clouded, hooves rearing, and spirit waning in the deep grass while bleeding from its heart wounds. Little did I know that nearly one year ago to the day, these striking figures would come to mean much more to me than I could ever possibly have fathomed. While we travel the world for destination fishing excursions, what we discover is far beyond what meets the end of our fly line.

While cancer diagnosis in this family was not the plan, let’s just be honest and say straight up that no one really ever expects such news to barge through their doors. I know that life goes on even when I'm screaming inside for it to stop. I’m going to keep showing up and encouraging others along the way because love does not return void. Oliver Holmes said, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”. Here’s to adventures that grow us and the travels that teach us how amazing life truly can be.

We adapt, we learn to navigate new waters; different ways we present the fly, how to mend or not mend the line, we seek to listen better, controlling each strip of what little moments we can. Indeed, the past 7 months have changed us, but we’ve chosen to keep rallying. This year’s trip to Patagonia has been the literal carrot dangling in front of us all summer/winter long. We touched down in Buenos Aires, our hands clenched together, and exclaimed, “Can you believe we made it back?!!” Throughout the fishing week, these words echoed across the emerald waters, with each morning’s brilliant sunrise and high up into the star-gazing sky of night. Stepping our feet back into the famed Limay River mid week brought tears to both Joel and I~ we made it. Yes, of course, there were incredible fish to hand and even bigger ones that got away, but at the end of the day, we were together.

Gratitude outweighs worry, and we have so many of you to thank for the support! Together we forge out friendships that strengthen our hearts and root us in communities. Anticipatory grief knocks, and we learn to invite her to join us at the table for a meal. This is how we all keep moving forward when life gets tough: we let love & adventure combat the mental health game. We celebrate our wins and losses while counting the blessings and hope is restored.

Fly fishing allows me to diligently become better at absorbing myself in the realities before me each day, and it’s why I love teaching. From the road, we see only a riverbank flowing past, but slowing down to stand in that water to swing a fly or float around in a boat, searching for nature's endless opportunities constantly pricks my interest and imagination. Curiosity & wonder can look like a common LBB (little brown bird), or as simple as taking notice of how my guide effortlessly swaps to a fresh tippet size and selects the knots to bring it all together before entrusting it back to me with a pinch of luck and a dash of caution.

Between the daily hustle and bustle, it’s hard to take a step back and just enjoy the present when you’re surrounded by everyday pressures. Throughout my life, I’ve found more than anything that traveling is a worthy, reflective experience which allows me to take pause in appreciating the value of living in the moment; a life skill, exactly like fly fishing, which is constantly being developed.

Jump on in! Mexico at XFlats is on the horizon for dry fly fishing to Permit and other salty fishes this May 8-16, 2026, & Patagonia again in 2027 for Joel’s 70th around Valentine’s Day~ we’d love to have you join us.