Sunday, April 6, 2014

Three Cheers For The Rebel Heart

Hooray for Rebel Heart!
When my two daughters were much younger, we took a family rafting trip with their grandparents on the Guadalupe River.  My (then) husband’s family had been joining countless other families camping and rafting the river for many summers. This particular year was my first time river rafting and I tried not to be a chicken.  

We had two big rafts for our group, all decked out with coolers, tons of sunscreen, life jackets and were having a blast as we coasted down the seemingly lazy river.  But the River’s benign surface could change in a moment... and it DID as we came to one of the many rocky parts where it became a white water maze.  My Father-In-Law was in charge of managing the raft through the rapids as we all paddled as directed…

I remember going over a tiny waterfall and passing a small child, perhaps 8 or 10 years old… a skinny little boy on an inner tube.  He floated around a boulder and over the short drop and disappeared beneath the falls…  I watched for his little head to pop up as we were carried down the river.  Rounding the bend, I lost sight as people were drawing closer to the boy’s last position… I never did see his head reappear.

I didn’t have time to think about it as we continued our river trip, but once back on dry land… it hit me.  My legs started to shake and I couldn’t believe I had willingly taken my young children into this dangerous situation. I never went back and it was years before my kids were allowed to returne, much older, to the river.  

Many people might think I overreacted in my fear.  Just as many others might say that I should NOT have subjected my children to the danger of drowning in that river.  But that’s what people do.  They overreact.  Fear of things unknown or misunderstood can make people speak out and perhaps judge unfairly.  And what could be a more fearful endeavor than sailing across the Pacific Ocean?…

These past several days I have watched anxiously for word of my friend Charlotte aboard S/V Rebel Heart. I have never met Charlotte in person, but she is the founder of Women Who Sail, a closed Facebook group created to provide a forum where sailor women can find information and support.  She and I share a common bond and I consider her a major contributor to making our current lives aboard Dos Libras a reality.  It’s phenomenal how Facebook friendships can develop into something “real” without the two friends ever laying eyes upon one another… but that’s a blog post for another day.  

I blanched when I first learned of the rescue mission already under way, of the sailboat Rebel Heart.  I went about my day but kept coming back to the internet to look for an update on the situation, hungry for the “all’s well” that I just knew would be coming.  I knew it because I could not accept any other outcome.  And soon enough, it did come.  Rescue teams had arrived and stabilized the sick baby.  The family was awaiting rescue but the immediate danger had passed.  

And then it started… the (pardon-my-french) shitstorm of blame and judgement.  The ugliness that resides within us all is released and spewed at the latest poor recipient of our derision…  It is a sad thing to watch and frankly, I'm glad that we're so out-of-touch out here on the boat, so I don't have to look at it! 

I would like, in the only small way that I can, to counter some of that venom by pledging my support and hope that my readers will join me in giving Charlotte and Eric your support as well.  Let’s say that they are good parents who love their children and want a better life than the “normal” one that society dictates.  Let’s say they want their children to grow up in a more broadly defined world than most of us will ever know, and be educated with open minds and big hearts.  Let’s say they want their children to be accepting of others who make different choices and live differently.  Let’s say that they want to spend TIME with their children the way most parents can not.  Let’s say that they planned and prepared to take on these challenges the best way they know how… and really, what more can we ask of any parent these days?

Different is not bad.  Please help stop the Media Madness and show your support if you can, to this extraordinary couple and their children.  Finally it looks as if that "All is well" is coming.  

16 comments:

  1. I first read about Rebel Heart this morning. They have my support for doing what they believe is right for them and their family. It is a shame that they are loosing everything they own. I just hope they don't give up their dream.

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    1. I can't wait to hear from Charlotte and Eric personally. I'm sure as it the norm, the media has things all mixed up. I am happy to see the Air National Guard responding to questions in a positive manner that this is what they train for and that the rescue was a good use of training resources with a better outcome. I share your hope that this is not the end of their travels and living the cruising lifestyle. Thanks for your comment and support!

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  2. Thank you for expressing words I couldn't.

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    1. And thank you Linda for reading our blog and for being one of the "good guys"!

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  3. Very well said Tammy!! Just because it's not how some people decide to live doesn't mean it's wrong!!! Cruising is a special bond with each other, God and nature.

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    1. There are so many different ways of raising children going on out there, the only difference in this and those, is that Charlotte and Eric live in the public eye through their blog. Hopefully the media will find something else to do soon... Thanks for your comment!

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  4. People are unbelievable. This family has been through an unsettling and scary experience, have lost their home (and their dream) and all people can do is be nasty. Sad, sad, sad.

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    1. I really hope that this hasn't ended the dream. There are so many people out here living this lifestyle. I hope they get right back out there! Thanks for reading!

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  5. Looks like we were thinking the same thing yesterday! I also wrote a very similar post yesterday, and my heart goes out to Charlotte and her family. Like you, I feel a bond with Charlotte and almost feel like I know her ... I've been following her blog for a while now.

    They prepared as best they could, and I have no doubt they love their children very, very much. For the naysayers ... Charlotte and her family have definitely suffered enough. No matter what your opinion, they've suffered and they now need all the love and support they can get. So glad all are well, and so sad to hear that their boat was sunk. Couldn't it have been saved later?

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    1. I think they sank the boat to keep it from becoming a floating hazard out there in the ocean. I guess it would be a liability if someone ran into it. It must have been such a wrenching decision on Charlotte and Eric's part... the decision between calling for help or not, knowing that it would cost them their boat. I'm sure they didn't make the decision lightly and it's good to hear the Air National Guard saying publicly that they called at the right time.

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  6. I support them and there plite.....Just shows how narrow mined people can be....Understand there is a big drive on in recovering their boat for them. How is the time for one of those multi billionaires who have money to burn to help out. Besides they can use it as a tax write off..

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  7. Well said!

    I too have followed the blog for a couple of years and do not hold it against anyone who wishes to follow their dreams. I will never condemn anyone for a chosen lifestyle. Unfortunately the life style we, and others, have chosen comes into question when something of this magnitude happens. The decision to sail RTW with young children aboard has now become a fiercely debated topic. Now doubt this will continue for some time.

    I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all the members of the rescue teams. It makes me proud to be an American tax payer when I witness men jumping out of a plane into the ocean to go, without question or regard of their own safety, to the aid of a young child.

    As fellow sailors we are all obligated to help a vessel in distress. I would never question having to go to the aid of another vessel. I am certain Eric and Charlotte would have sailed miles to assist another sailor. Unfortunately, it was them needing the support. I am gratified they had the necessary equipment aboard to communicate their dire needs.

    When an event like this happens and everybody comes out unscathed, all the people involved did everything right.


    Mark

    www.creampuff.us

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    1. I agree Mark and I can only hope that decisions we ourselves make today, don't end up causing us to be the next ones rescued. Nobody ever intends for this kind of thing to happen, and I know the Kauffmans did a lot of prep for this trip before setting out. We can only plan for the known and hope to make it through the rest. Thanks for your comment.

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  8. Well I'm happy as the Rebel Heart blog is how I found my way here...and having been forced to give up sailing (with the boat and my ex) I have so enjoyed reading about what I always thought would be my retirement ....

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    1. Cia, there are plenty of good guys out there living the dream and looking for someone to share it with. Don't give up on that! There is a shortage of women who are willing to live this life! You're in a much sought after minority! Thanks for reading and I'm glad you found our blog. We can use all the hand holding we can get!

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