The true account of a middle-aged couple pursuing life aboard an ocean-sailing yacht while savoring blue skies and crystal waters, sparkling beaches, romantic settings and glowing camaraderie afloat — forget running out of money, three fiendish sailing companions, everything going wrong, impossibilities . . . and nearly dying.
The word “sailing” evokes idyllic images — new and exciting places to visit, sunny blue skies to enjoy, refreshing free winds, crystal waters, colorful aquatic life and moonlight peeking between scudding clouds on balmy evenings. Throw in those refreshing drinks after satisfying hours of delight, perhaps while sharing experiences with other boaters and planning the next day’s exciting, sun-blessed experience. Providing the sailboat is big and comfortable enough, funds are plentiful enough, sailing experience is ample enough, the weather kindly enough and the destinations reasonable, the only items remaining are the decision to go, someone to watch the house, good health and substantial long-term financial security. We had a few little glitches in our enactment of this dream, trivial items such as selling our house and belongings and cars, and going into hock. The biggest boat I’d ever commandeered was a rowboat — a small one — so I had zero experience. Our boat was too big for two people in their fifties. The weather was unbelievably bad. Our investments tanked and then disappeared completely. We had three brushes with death, unbelievable bad luck all around, and three sailing companions we never saw, never wanted and would rather not have known. Their names: Murphy, Finagle and Sod. Everyone has heard of Murphy. Some know Finagle. Very few know of Sod, but he knew us. They all did! In fact, Murphy and Finagle were Sod’s protégés. Sailing was the easy part. The real problem was trying to get the darn boat to go uphill!
Jamie was a healthy, active 12-year old who loved to skate and played hockey as well as any boy. Then one afternoon during a game, she suffered a stroke that changed her world. Her memoir takes the reader through her ordeal and her journey out of the
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