Captain Bernie

Walther lives in the house where his wife, Jackie, was born. He and Jackie have been married for 20 years. They have 3 children: Ian (age 9) and twins, Grayson and Sydney (age 7). Captain Walther was on vacation when the flood hit. He returned home but left his family so that he could take care of the crippling devastation and spare them the debilitating emotional effects of seeing their home and city submerged in water. When Capt. Walther arrived home, he found that three of his basement walls had collapsed. The possessions in the basement and on the first floor are completely destroyed and the conditions of the house are currently unlivable. Until the family can find a permanent residence, Walther lives in a temporary home within the town of Cedar Rapids and his family lives in a nearby town with Jackie’s parents. Despite being separated from his family in a time of need, Bernie has demonstrated amazing strength in the face of devastation and his efforts to rebuild the city and the morale of City Rapids is truly inspiring.

Officer John McDaniels

Officer John McDaniels lived on Ellis Rd, next to the Cedar River, before the debilitating floods made his home uninhabitable. He lived with his wife Julie and their 12-year-old son Drake. Julie ran a daycare center next door to the home that cared for eight children, the facilities of which have been completely destroyed by the floodwaters and has resulted in $150,000 worth of damage. What’s worse, it is believed that their home may have suffered more damage than the daycare center. Their home was one of the first to be hit by the flood. The water tore through their home Thursday morning at 11 AM and John was back to work Thursday evening. As John explained, “I couldn’t do anything at home so I might as well come to work and help someone else.” While the future of their home is still uncertain and the possibility of rebuilding just a mere dream at the moment, John continues to work selflessly and admirably to help the other victims of the Cedar Rapids flood.

Officer Corey Lentz

Before the floodwaters tore through Cedar Rapids, they demolished the town of Palo first. Palo is also located on the Cedar River and one hundred percent of the residents of Palo were evacuated. Most houses in Palo suffered excessive damage, including the home of Officer Lentz. On Wednesday night, the night before the flood, Corey was fortunate to move most of the belongings on the first floor out of his house but was forced to leave the freezer, washer, dryer, furnace, and TV in the basement. On Thursday morning when the flood hit, the water destroyed the remaining items and the house. Officer Lentz is married to Carissa and they have a 5-year-old daughter named Ellie. Although the family is lucky to have moved out some of their belongings before the flood they are still crippled by the loss of their home.

Officer Rod Schulte

Although the home of Officer Rod Schulte sits on a slight embankment, his home was ravaged by floodwater. In his basement he lost his furnace, carpet, sheet rock, and his children’s toys. Officer Schulte lives with his wife Brooke and their three children, Braden (age 14), Sydney (age 7) and Cal (age 5). The biggest problem they face is that Sydney suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. Her immobility and health problems only accentuate the effects of the flood. In the aftermath of the flood Officer Schulte takes his daughter to summer camp, comes home to clean, and then returns to work. Although Officer Schulte has proved himself as a brave and courageous police officer in his everyday work and in his efforts after the flood, he finds it difficult to tell his wife that their wedding pictures were lost in the flood.

Marie Brightman

Marie works in the Records room of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. She lives at home with her dog, located across from the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Despite losing everything in her basement to the flood, Marie has been at work constantly. She currently acts as the head of inventory in documenting the department’s losses and was allowed to enter the PD when she was not allowed to enter her own home.

Officer Wayne Handeland

Officer Handeland was working on Wednesday night when his wife, Angie, called to say that they needed to evacuate. Angie and a friend moved everything of importance to them to an upstairs room but lost their furnace, freezer, washer, and dryer to the flood. Their home has sustained immeasurable damage but Officer Handeland continues to work and support others in this time of need.

Officer Jessica Long

Officer Long had just moved out of her home when the flood came. Although she had just moved out she had not yet removed everything from the basement. Her house also suffered water damage to her basement and laundry room and has severely weakened the foundation.

Jean Novak

Jean is an administrative secretary in the Police Department. She is married to Steve who has a repair shop in the downtown area. The floodwater was 10 feet high in the shop. Although they were able to save several belts that were hung high on the wall, they lost everything else to the flood.

Sheryl Daves

Sheryl works in the Records Room of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Massive amounts of floodwater tore through her home and she lost all her possessions. She has no furniture, no clothing, and no resources. As a single mom, Sheryl is struggling to survive with her children.

Officer Sherry Lester

Officer Lester’s cabin on the Wapsi River was destroyed by floodwater. The rising water left significant damage to the cabin and destroyed all her furnishings.

MADD Applauds Florida for Approving Lifesaving Alcohol Ignition Interlocks

6/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

Contact Information

Don Murray, MADD Florida
813-458-1015
don.murray@madd.org

Misty Moyse, MADD National
469-420-4558
misty.moyse@madd.org

Ashley Middleton, GMMB
202-572-2937
ashley.middleton@gmmb.com

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (June 19, 2008) – Governor Charlie Crist (R) signed into law on June 17 a measure that will save countless lives and prevent thousands of injuries by requiring all convicted drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or over to install an alcohol ignition interlock device on their vehicles. This new law goes into effect on October 1, 2008.

As part of a broad Department of Transportation bill, CS1992 delivered a large package of highway safety measures to Floridians including this lifesaving alcohol ignition interlock legislation. The bill was sponsored by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman, Senator Carey Baker. Similar to two other states who passed high-BAC legislation this year – Virginia and West Virginia – Florida is furthering MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

“This landmark legislation will make it harder for convicted drunk drivers to endanger themselves and others,” said Don Murray, Executive Director of MADD Florida. “MADD thanks Florida lawmakers for approving this bill and all of those who worked so hard over the course of this legislative session to ensure its passage.”

MADD also worked closely with Senator Stephen Wise and Representative David Simmons on two interlock bills covering .08 convicted drunk drivers that did not make it out of committee. MADD’s continued goal for Florida, one they will be working towards in 2009, will be to have interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

“As the original sponsor of this important legislation in the Florida House, and as the original sponsor of the legislation requiring mandatory use of interlock devices in Florida, I want to commend MADD for its tireless efforts to save lives on America’s roads,” said Representative Simmons. “Requiring interlock devices for first time DUI offenders whose blood alcohol level is greater than .15 is another important step in fighting drunk driving in Florida. Thank you, MADD, for the critical role you continue to play in passing this life-saving legislation.”

The legislation is named for Grace Redgate, a nine-month-old who was killed by a drunk driver with several previous convictions in a crash that tore Grace’s stroller from her mother’s grasp while taking an evening walk.

“An alcohol ignition interlock would have saved my daughter,” said Grace’s mother, Anna Redgate. “This legislation will help keep convicted drunk drivers off the roads and spare other mothers the heartbreak I’ve suffered.”

“This legislation is a huge step towards eliminating drunk driving in Florida,” said MADD National President and Florida native Glynn Birch. “We will continue to build upon this momentum by continuing to work to pass legislation that will require interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.” Eight states require alcohol ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, including New Mexico, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska, Colorado and Alaska.

An alcohol ignition interlock is a small, sophisticated device – about the size of a cell phone – that is installed into the starting circuit of a vehicle. A driver must blow into the device and the vehicle will not start if the driver has alcohol in their system. Sober drivers will be able to operate the vehicles normally.

“These devices are much more sophisticated and effective than in previous years,” stated Don Murray.

Alcohol ignition interlocks are proven to be an effective tool in the battle against drunk driving. Studies have shown the devices are up to 90 percent effective in keeping convicted drunk drivers from recommitting the crime, as long as the interlock is installed on the vehicle.

Research shows that drunk drivers facing their first conviction have driven drunk more than 87 times before their first arrest. This law will expand the use of alcohol ignition interlocks making it more difficult for all convicted drunk drivers, including the most egregious ones who have not been previously convicted, to repeat their crime.

###

MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives. For more information, visit www.madd.org.

 

The Power of 10
Rebuilds Lives

Please join us to support 10 families who have lost their homes along with all their possessions to the devastating floodwaters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Amy Graham, the wife of Greg Graham, has started a fund raising campaign for the families. Greg served the community of Ocala for 25 years with the Ocala Police Department. He left his position as Deputy Chief to become the new Chief of Police in Cedar Rapids. After only 11 days on the job, record flooding traumatized the city of Cedar Rapids.

Ten employees of the city have lost everything they own, including their homes. Although they have lost everything they continue to assist others in need.

As a community we have the power to help these 10 families rebuild their lives. As mayor of Ocala, Randy Ewers has stepped up many times to show his support to our community, lead us in times of tragedy, and has been a strong example of compassion. He is supporting these efforts to uphold the values we hold dear in helping all those in need during times of strife and struggle.

We are asking you to support these families by wearing black bracelets during our 10-day campaign. With a $10 donation we can make a difference.

Drop off points for the donations in Ocala include:

1st Quality Title (352) 690 -1787
Palm Chevrolet (352) 629 - 8011
OPD front desk (352) 690 - 7000
Gateway Bank (352) 368 -3756

Please make checks payable to Cedar Rapids Police Department.

For more information on the campaign, relief efforts, and the stories of these families please visit: foundationforgrace.org
Tax-deductible donations can also be made through this website under Power of 10 on a PayPal account.

For more information on how you can help, call:
Amy Graham: (352) 572-5482 Kathy Bryant: (352) 572-5775

Ocala, Fl Mayor Randy Ewers, Ocala, Fl Chief of Police Samuel Williams and Cedar Rapids, Iowa Chief of Police Greg Graham, endorse these efforts.

           

Thank you to all the volunteers and contributors to these efforts.

Aerial Gilbert’s entry into a place of loss was traumatic, sudden and like most loss, it was profound and personal. This is just a glimpse into what she has done with her loss, her heroic journey and teaching us what is possible. She is one of the most inspiring human beings I have known from my past, and have been so blessed to recently reunite with her. She was my Uncle’s wife and such a gift of a human being to me as a child. The imprint she left upon my heart was indelible, and I am sure, the brilliance of her courage will leave an imprint on your heart you will not soon forget.

With gratitude and Grace, Anna

“March 28, 1988, my life changed forever. When I finished my shift as a pediatric nurse at Marin General Hospital, my eyes felt irritated. I put in some over-the-counter eye drops I’d bought at a store. As soon as I felt the pain, I knew something was terribly wrong. I found out later that the drops had been adulterated with lye. I was that one-in-ten-million person who becomes a random victim of tampering. Suddenly I was a toddler in a 34-year-old body. Over the next six months I stayed at home, didn’t do anything but listen to books and music, and thought my life as I knew it was over…” Read on

A ROW IN THE DARK
by AERIAL GILBERT

Carey Chenoweth, Aerial Gilbert and Perry Heffelfinger
The fog was dense and the sun would not be up for another hour. Somewhere behind us was Catalina Island, somewhere in front the California coast. Just moments before my rowing partner, Perry Heffelfinger, and I had put our oars in the water for the start of the 1999 Annual Catalina Crossing, a 33- mile race across open ocean. Perry tried to keep Melee, our escort boat, and her husband, Carey Chenoweth, rowing his single scull nearby, in view, but with the fog and the ocean swells, it became increasingly difficult. I felt the fog on my face and the only sounds were our blades entering the water, the creak of the oarlocks, and our nervous, rapid breathing. Soon I could feel Perry’s oars chattering on the water, and her voice became increasingly tense. “Let’s try the walkie-talkie and see if we can raise Melee,” I suggested. No response. Next we tried the cell phone and again there was no response. Perry saw lights from other escort boats and decided to chase down one of them. We increased the power, but after a few minutes it was no use; our escort was out of sight and seemingly unreachable. Shut in as if in a shrinking room, walls and ceiling closing in, Perry and I suddenly were on equal footing—because I am blind.

We now had to rely on our navigation equipment: a compass and the Geographical Positioning System, or GPS, which we were not very familiar with. We set our compass heading for Marina del Rey and rowed on alone.

In the silence I thought about when I first began rowing in college. I had participated in other sports, but none gave me the joy that rowing provided. The physical skill and teamwork balanced with power was as beautiful to experience as it was to watch, for I still had my sight back then. I looked at rowing as a metaphor for life, individuals working together to eke the most out of their effort. After college, I joined the Sausalito Rowing Club and enjoyed all that San Francisco Bay had to offer—the sea life, the birds. Rowing opened up a new and versatile way to explore Richardson Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge, through Raccoon Straits and around Angel Island. I could imagine the region at different periods of time—when the Indians lived on the land, when Jack London stole oysters from the bay, or when the Liberty Ships were built in Sausalito.

March 28, 1988, my life changed forever. When I finished my shift as a pediatric nurse at Marin General Hospital, my eyes felt irritated. I put in some over-the-counter eye drops I’d bought at a store. As soon as I felt the pain, I knew something was terribly wrong. I found out later that the drops had been adulterated with lye. I was that one-in-ten-million person who becomes a random victim of tampering. Suddenly I was a toddler in a 34-year-old body. Over the next six months I stayed at home, didn’t do anything but listen to books and music, and thought my life as I knew it was over. Then an acquaintance from the boathouse called and said, “I am taking you out rowing in a double.” She told me that I didn’t need to see to row and that she would steer the boat. The skeptical owner of the boathouse nervously agreed to let me try. I instantly remembered my technique and realized that sight wasn’t important. For the first time I was able to escape for a few moments the ever-present awareness of being blind, and just feel the boat and the oars as I moved my body in the coordinated rhythm of the stroke.

Over the next couple of years I mastered techniques that would allow me to live a normal life without sight. I attended the Orientation Center for the Blind in Albany, California, where I learned independent mobility with a cane, reading and writing in Braille, how to cook and live independently. I attended Guide Dogs for the Blind, where I got my first Guide Dog, Webster, a yellow Labrador retriever. On my first walk with Webster I got an inkling that I could walk as fast as everyone else and I could move without evaluating every step I took. With my regained dignity and self esteem, I went back to work at Marin General Hospital, first developing x-rays, and then as a medical transcriber. I also volunteered at Guide Dogs, giving tours of the their campus. In 1994 I was hired full time as their Director of Volunteers, and currently manage 425 volunteers who work in many capacities on the San Rafael campus.

Aerial (left) and her rowing partner Perry Heffelfinger prepare for the 1999 Catalina Crossing.
On New Years Day 1998 I was introduced to Perry Heffelfinger, who had rowed the Catalina Crossing for nine years in a single rowing shell. Perry wanted to row Catalina one last time in a single, but asked if I would consider rowing with her in a double in 1999. Could I row for six hours continuously? Was I strong enough? Could I endure the pain? Was I good enough to row with Perry? In 1998 we tested the waters together. Perry hadn’t spent much time rowing in a double. It was awkward at first, having to consider another person in the boat, keeping our strokes in unison, Perry talking me through what she wanted me to do. In the beginning we were like two teenagers learning how to dance together—we needed some time to get coordinated in the boat. We decided we would first attempt a short race before committing to Catalina. We entered the Open Ocean Rowing Regatta (OORR) in May 1999 and came in second behind the US Women’s National Rowing Champions, with a respectable time of 1 hour 15 minutes in this 8 mile race. Perry realized I had the stamina and strength to match hers, and that Catalina in a double was possible.

We needed a double rowing shell we could borrow for the race, a rack and vehicle to transport the boat, and a powered escort boat to transport us out to the island and guide us through the race with a crew to cheer us. Bill Erklans at the OORR agreed to let us borrow his double for Catalina, a 29-foot Maas Dragonfly.

Aerial and Perry still smiling after a hard workout
Twice a week Perry and I would row for two hours, and, if conditions allowed, we would row around Angel Island. I joined a local gym and did weight training to increase my strength. We also did one twenty-mile row in preparation for the distance. Many details had to be considered–what to drink and eat during the race, what to wear, equipment such as life preservers, a compass, a Global Positioning System device, walkie-talkies, a cellular phone, seat pads, lights, and flares. I read the few accounts of the race that exist and talked to veterans of the race. The one common thread that all agreed to was that the race doesn’t really begin until the last two hours. The contest is truly against yourself, against your desire to quit because of the pain. I heard stories of seasickness, near-misses with freighters, and rough conditions. However, they were unanimous in their sense of great satisfaction in completing the race.

To be continued….in the next issue of Incredible People you’ll read about Aerial Gilbert’s amazing 32 mile race in the Catalina Crossing. Don’t miss it!

You can read more on Aerial and her current pursuit and triumph of heading to the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. I have posted a link to her blog which has amazing photos, more of her words and some incredible films on her rowing, training and achieving her dreams.

http://home.earthlink.net/~gdbdeanne/worlds2003/

Consultations/Coaching
MOTIVATION/INSPIRATIONAL MANANGEMENT

EFFECTIVE LIVING COACHING

CHALLENGING TIMES CONSULTATIONS

LIFE TRANSITION COUNSELING

CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT

IMPORTANT LIFE DECISIONS CONSULTS

BEREAVEMENT/MOURNING COUNSELING

Do you want to talk to someone who is a tower of strength? Someone who will make sense out of the confusion in life? Do you want to know what is the truth in all this insanity? Would you like input when making difficult decisions? Are you sruggling in relationships?

You are wanting something that goes a fair stretch beyond ordinary, garden-variety coaching. As you read in DON’T BLAME THE GAME, my life journey has been an extraordinary one - combined with 14 years of postsecondary education, I bring everything I have learned along the way to benefit you.

This is coaching — – Redefined — – people contact me to come to know the true nature of reality, to listen, to be listened to, to participate in their own truth, and learn. Redefined coaching, leaves people saying: “I gotta have this”, “this makes sense” , “these talks bring meaning to me and my life.”

Whether you are facing difficult times right now or wish to improve your sense of self in the world around you — my coaching services will provide the support, inspiration, and practical advice necessary for you to get what you want out of life.

Proper coaching will put things in perspective

In our work together, I can help establish a foundation– — through correct principles - that will be a benchmark for your inner peace, contentment, challenges and success in all your endeavors. Some of these are outlined in my book: “Don’t Blame the Game.”

Purpose - connotes meaning. Meaning starts with being informed. Having a sense of meaning in your life is the foundation from which the rest of your goals and dreams will emerge as well as your challenges get met.

Process - with a clear sense of direction for you, we will focus on the processes which will allow you to align your daily actions with the values you wish to center your life around. Process allows you to experience a sense of flow and to maintain your focus in this fast-paced world.

Preempt - through finely-seeded interactions, I can teach you a honed ability to sense potential problems in their infancy where you’ll be able to effectively handle them before they become overwhelming and burdensome. Life lessons tend to come back to us in disguise, until we recognize and process them correctly.

Prayer - the invisible glue which will hold you “together” even after our coaching is completed. Included in this section are simple practices of silence or contemplation, short meditations, and guidance personalized to support you for the rest of your life’s journey.

Starting with where you are right now, I will help guide and serve you, I will be available for you and help you decide where you want to go ……one session at a time.

For information on my coaching rates and how to get started, please click here:

http://laurayoung.typepad.com/rollingrishi

Aerial Gilbert’s entry into a place of loss was traumatic, sudden and like most loss, it was profound and personal. This is just a glimpse into what she has done with her loss, her heroic journey and teaching us what is possible. She is one of the most inspiring human beings I have known from my past, and have been so blessed to recently reunite with her. She was my Uncle’s wife and such a gift of a human being to me as a child. The imprint she left upon my heart was indelible, and I am sure, the brilliance of her courage will leave an imprint on your heart you will not soon forget.

With gratitude and Grace, Anna

“March 28, 1988, my life changed forever. When I finished my shift as a pediatric nurse at Marin General Hospital, my eyes felt irritated. I put in some over-the-counter eye drops I’d bought at a store. As soon as I felt the pain, I knew something was terribly wrong. I found out later that the drops had been adulterated with lye. I was that one-in-ten-million person who becomes a random victim of tampering. Suddenly I was a toddler in a 34-year-old body. Over the next six months I stayed at home, didn’t do anything but listen to books and music, and thought my life as I knew it was over…” Read on

A ROW IN THE DARK
by AERIAL GILBERT

Carey Chenoweth, Aerial Gilbert and Perry Heffelfinger
The fog was dense and the sun would not be up for another hour. Somewhere behind us was Catalina Island, somewhere in front the California coast. Just moments before my rowing partner, Perry Heffelfinger, and I had put our oars in the water for the start of the 1999 Annual Catalina Crossing, a 33- mile race across open ocean. Perry tried to keep Melee, our escort boat, and her husband, Carey Chenoweth, rowing his single scull nearby, in view, but with the fog and the ocean swells, it became increasingly difficult. I felt the fog on my face and the only sounds were our blades entering the water, the creak of the oarlocks, and our nervous, rapid breathing. Soon I could feel Perry’s oars chattering on the water, and her voice became increasingly tense. “Let’s try the walkie-talkie and see if we can raise Melee,” I suggested. No response. Next we tried the cell phone and again there was no response. Perry saw lights from other escort boats and decided to chase down one of them. We increased the power, but after a few minutes it was no use; our escort was out of sight and seemingly unreachable. Shut in as if in a shrinking room, walls and ceiling closing in, Perry and I suddenly were on equal footing—because I am blind.

We now had to rely on our navigation equipment: a compass and the Geographical Positioning System, or GPS, which we were not very familiar with. We set our compass heading for Marina del Rey and rowed on alone.

In the silence I thought about when I first began rowing in college. I had participated in other sports, but none gave me the joy that rowing provided. The physical skill and teamwork balanced with power was as beautiful to experience as it was to watch, for I still had my sight back then. I looked at rowing as a metaphor for life, individuals working together to eke the most out of their effort. After college, I joined the Sausalito Rowing Club and enjoyed all that San Francisco Bay had to offer—the sea life, the birds. Rowing opened up a new and versatile way to explore Richardson Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge, through Raccoon Straits and around Angel Island. I could imagine the region at different periods of time—when the Indians lived on the land, when Jack London stole oysters from the bay, or when the Liberty Ships were built in Sausalito.

March 28, 1988, my life changed forever. When I finished my shift as a pediatric nurse at Marin General Hospital, my eyes felt irritated. I put in some over-the-counter eye drops I’d bought at a store. As soon as I felt the pain, I knew something was terribly wrong. I found out later that the drops had been adulterated with lye. I was that one-in-ten-million person who becomes a random victim of tampering. Suddenly I was a toddler in a 34-year-old body. Over the next six months I stayed at home, didn’t do anything but listen to books and music, and thought my life as I knew it was over. Then an acquaintance from the boathouse called and said, “I am taking you out rowing in a double.” She told me that I didn’t need to see to row and that she would steer the boat. The skeptical owner of the boathouse nervously agreed to let me try. I instantly remembered my technique and realized that sight wasn’t important. For the first time I was able to escape for a few moments the ever-present awareness of being blind, and just feel the boat and the oars as I moved my body in the coordinated rhythm of the stroke.

Over the next couple of years I mastered techniques that would allow me to live a normal life without sight. I attended the Orientation Center for the Blind in Albany, California, where I learned independent mobility with a cane, reading and writing in Braille, how to cook and live independently. I attended Guide Dogs for the Blind, where I got my first Guide Dog, Webster, a yellow Labrador retriever. On my first walk with Webster I got an inkling that I could walk as fast as everyone else and I could move without evaluating every step I took. With my regained dignity and self esteem, I went back to work at Marin General Hospital, first developing x-rays, and then as a medical transcriber. I also volunteered at Guide Dogs, giving tours of the their campus. In 1994 I was hired full time as their Director of Volunteers, and currently manage 425 volunteers who work in many capacities on the San Rafael campus.

Aerial (left) and her rowing partner Perry Heffelfinger prepare for the 1999 Catalina Crossing.
On New Years Day 1998 I was introduced to Perry Heffelfinger, who had rowed the Catalina Crossing for nine years in a single rowing shell. Perry wanted to row Catalina one last time in a single, but asked if I would consider rowing with her in a double in 1999. Could I row for six hours continuously? Was I strong enough? Could I endure the pain? Was I good enough to row with Perry? In 1998 we tested the waters together. Perry hadn’t spent much time rowing in a double. It was awkward at first, having to consider another person in the boat, keeping our strokes in unison, Perry talking me through what she wanted me to do. In the beginning we were like two teenagers learning how to dance together—we needed some time to get coordinated in the boat. We decided we would first attempt a short race before committing to Catalina. We entered the Open Ocean Rowing Regatta (OORR) in May 1999 and came in second behind the US Women’s National Rowing Champions, with a respectable time of 1 hour 15 minutes in this 8 mile race. Perry realized I had the stamina and strength to match hers, and that Catalina in a double was possible.

We needed a double rowing shell we could borrow for the race, a rack and vehicle to transport the boat, and a powered escort boat to transport us out to the island and guide us through the race with a crew to cheer us. Bill Erklans at the OORR agreed to let us borrow his double for Catalina, a 29-foot Maas Dragonfly.

Aerial and Perry still smiling after a hard workout
Twice a week Perry and I would row for two hours, and, if conditions allowed, we would row around Angel Island. I joined a local gym and did weight training to increase my strength. We also did one twenty-mile row in preparation for the distance. Many details had to be considered–what to drink and eat during the race, what to wear, equipment such as life preservers, a compass, a Global Positioning System device, walkie-talkies, a cellular phone, seat pads, lights, and flares. I read the few accounts of the race that exist and talked to veterans of the race. The one common thread that all agreed to was that the race doesn’t really begin until the last two hours. The contest is truly against yourself, against your desire to quit because of the pain. I heard stories of seasickness, near-misses with freighters, and rough conditions. However, they were unanimous in their sense of great satisfaction in completing the race.

To be continued….in the next issue of Incredible People you’ll read about Aerial Gilbert’s amazing 32 mile race in the Catalina Crossing. Don’t miss it!

You can read more on Aerial and her current pursuit and triumph of heading to the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. I have posted a link to her blog which has amazing photos, more of her words and some incredible films on her rowing, training and achieving her dreams.

http://home.earthlink.net/~gdbdeanne/worlds2003/

http://www.griefcounselor.org/

What we do:
We are a full service Counseling Center helping persons who are dealing with emotionally intense experiences such as Grief, Loss, Trauma, Depression or Abuse. Additionally, we develop more creative methods for serving individuals and groups.

Our business history
Dr. Jerry Rothman and Tom Cole founded the Center in July, 1985 as a part of a larger Social Service Agency. In 1991 the Center became independent as a 501c3 nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation. Starting out with a specialization in Sibling Loss, the Center slowly expanded its mission, until we offered a full range of therapeutic services. Because of our uniqueness as one of the first organizations specializing in Grief and Loss, we received national publicity with features distributed by People Magazine, Associated Press, CBS-TV, The Chicago Tribune and many other news agencies.

instead
of thinking
you’re gone
I choose to feel
you
here
feel your presence
feeling you
with me
I will be present
present
to your love
loving me
loving you
though
you’re not here
knowing
knowing you
are

with me

I know
I’d rather feel that

instead

he would say
I love you mom
thank you for
watching over
me so lovingly
he would tell me why
he’s always looking up
at me
snuggling near me
making eye contact
unlike the othersif he could talk
he’d tell me why
his little paw reaches out
to touch mine
why he gets under
the covers with me at night
why he tilts his head
to get my attention
why that funny crying sound
that makes me laugh
always preceeds
bringing me toys
seemingly left as a present
at the foot of the bedif he could talk
he’d say
thank you
for saving his life
for putting up with all
his stubborn ways
for so earnestly
figuring out how to keep
giving him medicine
day after
day
after
day
he doesn’t
need to

talk

(a poem I never wanted to write)aching
emptiness
surrounds
my broken heart
today I lost
my baby
my friend
a part of me
today
I let go
a part of
myself
I wanted
to hold on to
forever
having to let go
of the hold
saving a life
mine
my little cat companion
my angel
that now
watches over me