If someone had asked me, in my previous life; "Hey, there's a weekend fly-fishing retreat where you can learn the basics of fly fishing - interested?"

Me: "Thanks, hard pass!"

But in this life, however, the living-with-cancer-life...

Me: "Heck, yeah, sign me up!"

A Vermont lodge in the heart of rural country; large and invitingly rustic; plushy mattresses in private rooms located in 'wings' - a-maze-ingly charming; large farmer tables where meals (prepared by someone else!) can be enjoyed with group conversation; overstuffed-lodgy central space; Adirondack chairs on a breezy, wrap-around porch that would accommodate about four Tiny Homes above the rolling front 'pasture,' a  pond, and a view of the Green Mountains; a babbling brook that I had the good fortune to hear along with peepers outside my bedroom window at night; cannot be surpassed - if you're interested in the outdoor sport of fly-fishing and nearby fishing brooks, ponds, and rivers to go practice the art of casting.

But wait! There's more!

The pinnacle of the weekend? The fisher-women who volunteer, not only their expertise, but also an abundance of humor, seeming-unlimited positive energy, patience, and compassion. Friends themselves, they share the passion of fly-fishing to provide an incredible, unforgettable, and, perhaps, life-changing event in the lives of cancer-thrivers, women of any age, any cancer, who dare to step out of their comfort zone and have an experience that just may add some much-needed Zen to their lives.

The enticement is that, if one isn't interested in fly-fishing, then maybe just a relaxing retreat and camaraderie with other women who share a common bond, discuss if you want or not, but know we are all in the same river of life. I'll warn you, though, you won't be able to resist the lure of trying something new. Maybe something that would never have flowed in your direction.

For me, I just wanted to escape my life for a few days. The bait: a beautiful location , a group of only women , good food, comfortable, spacious accommodation , free entertainment , fly-fishing .

After Saturday’s practice of casting on either the pond or the ocean of grass, I was hooked! Saturday’s evening options were: more practice casting on a nearby pond, where the fish are, or hanging out at the lodge with a few new gal-pals. Tough choice but I opted to have some fun on the water. Why not?

What an amazing, meditative way to lose all track of time and troubles. My thoughts were only about casting that fly over and over on the water. Rolling cast. Side cast. False cast. Mending the line. Stripping the line. S-cast. For me, the hook was set; when our time was up, I didn't want to leave. Myself and another novice-angler wanted to stay a little while longer so one of the instructors, who didn't need much persuading, agreed. The wind that had made casting a bit more challenging earlier now became calm, the water became quiet, and in the evening air we were together and alone, snapping our lines.

This retreat was so empowering and validating. I've made some new friends and we've enjoyed fly-fishing together since that weekend along with A LOT of laughs...on the water, IN the water! It's really been a great experience and I can't emphasize enough the need for women with cancer to take some of our precious and dwindling time to enjoy some real-life adventure, hilarity, rest, friendship, and maybe learn something new, the art of fly-fishing, and...living isn't over.

Karyn D Clark