There’s nothing like catching a monster bass that will take your mind off your son’s fight with bone cancer and his immunotherapy treatments!
Ralph, AL’s Brittney Roberts offers up our Good News story from yesterday!
“Sometimes your child is the one reminding you to live. This afternoon… was one of those times.
“Today was exhausting. I came home and crashed after we got Wills immunotherapy administered at Children’s.
“Mama came by before Bible study this afternoon wanting me to go… I didn’t. Daddy texted to take me to dinner… I didn’t. The thought of getting off my couch and facing anyone exhausted me.
“The guilt was there… but I just didn’t feel like having to get up.
“Jason came in and he and Will asked if I’d go fishing… somehow all four of us ended up on a fishing adventure. Nothing about it was calm. It was straight Roberts chaos.
“Will wanted me in the boat with him while Charlie and Jason fished off the bank. I quickly figured out why. Apparently, the person running the trolling motor gets first dibs on all the good spots… and the one in the back just gets whatever water is left.
“Will knew his daddy wouldn’t play that game…
…but me, ole mama? He knew I didn’t know any better.
“I’ve never caught a bass in my life. My best fishing in the past was on a good brim bed where you are constantly catching something. Bass fishing was always boring…I guess so if you’ve never caught one.
“First bass today…small. A good confidence booster.
Second one… nearly took me out.
“I was on the phone with Mama, half reeling it in, and that thing jumped clean out of the water. Will LOST HIS MIND…he saw the mouth on it.
“OH MY GOSH!!! OH MY GOSH!!! GET OFF THE PHONE. HANG UP!!! DAAAAAD!!! LOOK WHAT MAMA GOT!!!”
“He’s yelling, coaching, grabbing the line, trying to help… and I’m over here just trying to keep him from falling in the water.
“Come to find out… it was a FIVE POUND BASS.
(Which apparently is a BIG deal….who knew??)
“After my first fish, Will looked at my worm and said, “Mama… they’ve been tearing your worm up. It’s wore out with teeth marks.”
“I got a lesson in fishing I didn’t know I needed. I’m used to a bobber and waiting on it to go under.
All those little pulls I felt?
Yeah… that was fish the whole time. I obviously didn’t SET them.
“This afternoon… I needed it more than I realized.
“I almost stayed home, stayed in my thoughts, and let the exhaustion win. Instead… I got laughter, chaos, a heart attack from a bass, and a memory I wouldn’t trade for anything.
“Sometimes you don’t need rest as much as you need life.
“And today… Will, Charlie, and Jason reminded me of that.”
Thanks to Brittney for the wonderful story!
Her first fish a 5 pounder?
I bet Will makes sure she’s in the boat the next go around!
*You can follow Will’s journey on Facebook at Brittney Battles Roberts
