Death, Ocean, Life

"Pau" I do not know personally but some of his friends who are still looking for him I do. Two days ago he was lost at sea while spearfishing around "baho", a shallow area between Aruba and Venezuela.

These Arubans have my respect. They live from the sea, in the sea. Many die by her. My friend Albert, who stopped going out to look for Pau told me how he himself barely survived a rough ocean two weeks ago, his boat sank after one engine quit working... thanks to his vhf mayday being heard by Venezuelan coast guard.  We shared that the probable loss of Pau is God's work; it could be any of us.

(Updated 202003031730: Pau's lifeless body has been found on the Colombian coast. Condolences to family and friends.)
(Updated 202003041010: News reports from Colombia do not validate that the body has been found. The three friends who went to get him were arrested by Venezuelan Coast Guard due to trespassing territorial waters. To be continued.)

Yesterday I sailed for the second time in 19 months. Hoping for a nice 15 knot easy sail the wind was nothing like that at all. 25 knots on the ocean. I felt fear from the start. Silly, but I have to admit it. What if the the mast comes down? What if the centerboard breaks off? What if I tip over? Out of fear and carefulness I sailed with jib and mizzen only. The main stayed rolled on boom.  Was it all the stories about the ocean taking lives that spooked me? Was it because of the long time not being on the ocean? What is important is that I went out anyway. Many reasons not to go out, family time, work to be done, visit friends and family... Still I pushed through and went out. Push the fear on the water and do not let it control me. 


The wind was very blustery and pushing the gunwale underwater at least 4 times, with so little sail up. But nothing dramatic happened. Vanessa never tipped over, the centerboard stuck to the boat, the mast did not budge and my fear has crawled back in its black hole. There were some awe inspiring moments out there, especially the intense blue of the ocean, the 7 different tortuga heads popping up and diving quickly at seeing my bow approaching, the big birds trying to lift a dead snapper out of the water... and the feeling of being pushed forward by Nature's power while looking at how beautiful it all is.

Webb is preparing some trip(s); different destinations and journeys start to appear in his mind.  I am silently awaiting to see and read about the solemn Louise ceremony.  The ocean is our temple.

Joy

Black swans surprise us. A virus disrupts recurring economic global cycles.

Politics become strange and useless.

Computers replace people's craft work. Internet punches holes in entire industries, from retail to publishing.

Humanism has become something we have to try and make time for.  When I look around I see most people staring down at a little screen in their hands, while the pelicans sail the wind looking for fish in the water, while the children ask for an ice cream.

Antarctica experiences the warmest day ever recorded. Gaia is working towards homeostasis.

Webb touched the concept of Joy. I am grateful he did. There is more than enough not to feel Joy. It is a choice, to feel Joy and to try and spread It around.

It is a Holy thing, Joy. Joy For Living.

True Joy removes addictions, lowers consumption, slows us down, lets us turn the other cheek, lets us think about others who are worse off... Could it be the Key to a better world?

To be continued.