We headed home this morning, leaving Nassau around 8:00 AM, on our way to Ft. Lauderdale to clear U.S. Customs and turn in our raft and life vests. By 10:30, we were on the move again towards Mobile, Alabama, where we planned to stop for fuel and lunch, before the last leg home. Once again,weather intervened. As we neared the Mobile area, thunderstorms and heavy rain to the west turned our lunch stop into another unplanned overnight stop. Fortunately, my long-time buddy Richard and his wife Sue live here, so Rich met us at the airport, took us to lunch and on to his house to wait out the weather. Soon, it became obvious that continuing today was not in the cards, so we are here for the night. Sue prepared a wonderful meal that Curt and I scarfed down like the hungary pilots we were. Then, we setttled in the living room to share some of our experiences from the last week. More importantly, because Richard and I are so close, having had many adventures together and having helped each other through the trials and tribulations that all of us experience, I was able to begin processing the whole Haiti relief experience. As Curt and I visited with Richard and Sue about what it was like to be there, I think we both have started to reflect on the emotions and the effects of the last 8 days. Richard asked if we would have any post traumatic stress from being involved. It is an interesting question that I don’t have a ready answer for. Mostly I have many half formed thoughts and fragments of memories of the people and places we encountered. As we have written these reports, Curt and I have tried to share their stories with you. These volunteers have made, and are continuing to make the committment at no small cost, to show up and do the best they can to help people they will likely never know. The people of Bahamas Habitat, Cameron, and Matt… the volunteers, Sharif, Paul, James, Andy, Shaun and Greg….the pilots who have flown their general aviation airplanes before we arrived, and who will fly again tomorrow and the next days and weeks to come, despite the difficulties, the cost and the distance, to bring people and supplies to the remote regions of Haiti… all are special. The thousands who donated the medical supplies or sent contributions to fund this work are an important and unrecognized asset as well. Admittedly I also have a few uncertainties about the impact we had on the overall event. The devastation is so widespread and those poor people are in such desperate condition, that it truly is hell on earth. That is the reality and it is difficult to accept that no matter what so many good people have done and are doing, Haiti will need much, much more over the coming months and years. On balance, I know it was important for us to go. Having friends who have supported us with prayers and some of the funding required, and most of all, having a wife who whole-heartedly encourages me put aside the reservations about the challenges and to simply follow the call, means more than I know how to express. I do know is that I am truly blessed.
Fair Skies
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