Vaile Scott
1926-2013
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or might or pain can reach you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
From On the death of the Beloved
by John O'Donohue
The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails. – Joshua Slocum
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. –Isak Dinesen
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. –Isak Dinesen
March 21, 2013
We realize that it has been a long time since we have written. Francie’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in the fall. His oncologist recommended radiation treatment with the potential for slowing down the cancer and (best case) giving him another year or two to live. In November Francie flew to Indiana and stayed for 5 weeks, driving her dad to daily treatments. In December, her parents came down to Longboat Key in Florida (where they normally spend the winter) to continue with chemotherapy treatments.
We left Marathon New Year’s Day and motor/sailed north for 28 hours. It was an uneventful trip until we entered the channel between Long Boat Key and Ana Marie Island. There we ran aground on a shoal that was in the channel. After making a sudden stop, we check the chart only to see we were supposed to be in 15 feet of water. After bouncing across the shoal with the waves, Boat US pulled us off. Active Captain now has a hazard marker on that exact spot! Cortez our final destination is 14 miles from Long Boat Key. We had stayed at the Cove Sound Moorings Marina in 2010 and it felt like coming home. Renewing our friendships at this marina has been a pleasure. The next day we moved in with Francie’s parents to be able to be of more help. Ultimately after several difficult chemotherapy sessions, Francie’s dad elected to stop treatment and was enrolled in hospice.
Near the end of February, Francie flew back to Indiana, and her parents followed a couple of days later. We had secured 24 hour care for her dad, and family members were scheduling visits to be with her mom and help out. Francie’s dad was stable and comfortable at home. Francie returned home to the boat on March 16, and we were getting ready to set sail for Marathon to visit friends and then head north with possibly a quick stop in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Pierce.
After being back to the boat for only a week, we received a call that her dad had taken a turn for the worse; we drove up to Indiana. After a week of intensive care with hospice, her father died in the afternoon on Easter Sunday, having been surrounded by loved ones and in peace. It has been a difficult 6 months, we end it with sadness but no regrets.
We will visit for another week in the Midwest and then head south to resume our “boat life!” We are looking forward to a few good days of sailing and many hours of travel up the east coast. Our hope is to spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay.
We realize that it has been a long time since we have written. Francie’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in the fall. His oncologist recommended radiation treatment with the potential for slowing down the cancer and (best case) giving him another year or two to live. In November Francie flew to Indiana and stayed for 5 weeks, driving her dad to daily treatments. In December, her parents came down to Longboat Key in Florida (where they normally spend the winter) to continue with chemotherapy treatments.
We left Marathon New Year’s Day and motor/sailed north for 28 hours. It was an uneventful trip until we entered the channel between Long Boat Key and Ana Marie Island. There we ran aground on a shoal that was in the channel. After making a sudden stop, we check the chart only to see we were supposed to be in 15 feet of water. After bouncing across the shoal with the waves, Boat US pulled us off. Active Captain now has a hazard marker on that exact spot! Cortez our final destination is 14 miles from Long Boat Key. We had stayed at the Cove Sound Moorings Marina in 2010 and it felt like coming home. Renewing our friendships at this marina has been a pleasure. The next day we moved in with Francie’s parents to be able to be of more help. Ultimately after several difficult chemotherapy sessions, Francie’s dad elected to stop treatment and was enrolled in hospice.
Near the end of February, Francie flew back to Indiana, and her parents followed a couple of days later. We had secured 24 hour care for her dad, and family members were scheduling visits to be with her mom and help out. Francie’s dad was stable and comfortable at home. Francie returned home to the boat on March 16, and we were getting ready to set sail for Marathon to visit friends and then head north with possibly a quick stop in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Pierce.
After being back to the boat for only a week, we received a call that her dad had taken a turn for the worse; we drove up to Indiana. After a week of intensive care with hospice, her father died in the afternoon on Easter Sunday, having been surrounded by loved ones and in peace. It has been a difficult 6 months, we end it with sadness but no regrets.
We will visit for another week in the Midwest and then head south to resume our “boat life!” We are looking forward to a few good days of sailing and many hours of travel up the east coast. Our hope is to spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay.