Corrie’s Crew—2024   Clinton County Relay for Life, St. Johns, Michigan

“The details are quite murky. Maybe, even a little bit quirky…”

“Was it 2013?  No, it had to be earlier than that,” I thought to myself.  I Googled Jimmy Buffett’s first concert at Comerica Park in Detroit.  There it was, 2012.  I know many of you are wondering how a father can forget these details as he journeys with his daughter through her fight against cancer.  To be honest, there are a lot of specific dates that I just don’t remember.  I know the steps that she went through and the chronological order of them, but the exact dates are fuzzy at best.  I have listened to other parents as they describe their daughter and son’s battles with cancer, and they have the same lack of exact memory when something happened.  Regardless of age, it’s kind of like a bad dream.

At any rate, I do remember my daughter Corrie calling me on the phone.  “Dad, Jimmy Buffett will be at Comerica late in July, and there are tickets available.” 

My reply was quite simple, “Buy them.  Here’s my card number to use.” 

“Dad, they are going to cost $???? each,”  Corrie responded.

“Buy them,” I answered.  You’ll notice that I don’t recall the amount that I paid for the four tickets, either.  We went to that Jimmy Buffett concert at Comerica in July 2012.  Four days after a major surgery for Corrie, and this was the only Jimmy Buffett concert that we were ever able to attend.  Why does that seem so important this year?

Jimmy Buffett passed on September 1,, 2023, after a four-year battle with Merkel Skin Cancer.  He left us with a final album, Equal Strains on All Parts.  On that final album.  This was a debut for his song  “Bubbles Up”.  Whether or not you have heard this song or if you are one of Jimmy’s Parrotheads or not, amidst the insanity of our present world and the anger and hate that keeps foaming up around us, “Bubbles Up” does provide a way for us to face our challenges.

“When this world starts a-reelin'

From that pressure drop feelin'

We're just treading water each day

There's a way to feel better

Be well set to weather

The storms 'til the sun shines again

When your compass is spinnin'

And you're lost on the way

Like a leaf in the wind, friend

Hear me when I say”

“Bubbles up

They will point you towards home

No matter how deep or how far you roam

They will show you the surface, the plot and the purpose

So, when the journey gets long

Just know that you are loved

There is light up above

And the joy is always enough

Bubbles up”

… and I’m certain that you know there is more to the song than this, but that’s for you to seek.

This year, our Relay looks at all the Colors of Cancer, and we focus on Corrie’s Pink Ribbon.  For us, that Color of Pink is more than just a color;

“It is an attitude.”

Please consider joining us in spirit, virtually, or with your donations.

St. John’s, Michigan, Relay for Life, May 18th, from 10 am to 10 pm

Monetary donations may be made online- go to Relay for Life, click on Donations, type in Corrie’s Crew,  then enter your donation amount.

OR

mailed to Diane Grasley, 4271 Woerner Road, Manitou Beach, MI  49253,

and remember…

“Just know that you are loved

There's light up above

And joy, there's always enough

Bubbles up”

Corrie's Crew - Join Team	Raised
Kevin Grasley	$250.00
Diane Grasley	$885.00
Team Gifts	$422.01