We woke up in the yard this morning, after staying aboard for the first night; yip yip! We chose a fun one- an intense thunder and lightening storm for hours starting at 1am, with the added excitement of high winds and seriously heavy rains. Not being able to swing on anchor while up on stands, we had water coming in in places we haven’t seen before, while also listening to our mousing lines thwacking against the mast for the higher winds. Let’s just say that today might be a slow one for the brain waves…
We went to sleep last night full of contentment, ironically enough. Not only the relief and comfort of being in our own beds, but filled with gratitude for what we have experienced here. The people of these islands have withstood so much and lost so much, and yet we have never encountered such gracious attitudes, everywhere we turn. While looking for a place to live, someone we had not yet met offered us a free home, and it wasn’t the only offer.
We have been offered showers, activities for the kids (the yard’s next door neighbor is becoming a great friend), friends have come to help us on the boat, and last night when picking the girls up from a painting playdate, we were sent home with a gigantic and most-delicious plate of food. We are overwhelmed and oh-so lucky!
Saturday is a cruiser-organized beach clean up day, and I gladly signed us up to help. Though Chickadee repair and sailing is our goal here and the reason for our visit, spending all hours onboard while forces unite to clean up and rebuild the island around us feels selfish. We’re happy to be able to tip the scale the other way, even the littlest bit.
