First of all, I need to thank everyone for their love and support. I would not have been able to go on without the strength that you have given me. I have been trying to reply personally to each email that I received but every time I send out a reply I get three more emails. I will catch up but please know I cherish each and every word that you send.
This has been the most difficult three weeks of my entire life. It is hard to describe how incredibly happy we were. When we sailed into Ladysmith on January 4th, we both felt like we had made a great choice. It was a rainy day but we received the warmest welcome at the Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina. Within an hour of arriving we had met several people who we were looking forward to getting to know. There were instant connections and as it became apparent after Jean-Luc's death, we were connected by friends in Revelstoke and Winnipeg and even back in Ontario. There is a reason why we were drawn to this place.
We left Sidney, BC on December 31st and spent New Years Eve and News Years Day in Montague Harbour on Galliano Island. Everything we read about the boating community was true - chance meetings with interesting people, some you would see again and some you may not. From there we went to Conover Cove on Wallace Island for two nights. Again meeting more like minded people. Those four days were perfect winter cruising days - sunshine!!!
Who would believe that in two days our lives would never be the same.
I awoke to a strange sound just before midnight and when I looked out my port light I saw the boat house across the way fully engulfed in flames. I woke Jean-Luc, leapt out of bed and went to warn other live aboards. The family nearest were on the phone to 911 and as another boat house caught fire, I yelled to Jean-Luc that we needed to try and move our boat to safety. Always the calm thinker, he suggested that maybe I should put some shoes on. And then he collapsed in the cockpit of the boat. I won't continue with all the details but I give my gratitude to our neighbours who helped get Jean-Luc off the boat and immediately began CPR. He died at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital.
I have never doubted that the world is full of amazing people, I just didn't know how many were concentrated here - the residents and members of the Ladysmith Maritime Society, the fire fighters, the paramedics, the victims service volunteer and on and on.
I found out later that the doctor who worked on Jean-Luc is a sailor and an author. Jean-Luc and I read and enjoyed his book about his sailing adventure. He and the staff at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital were the most compassionate and professional team.
So what now? I have been welcomed into the family here at the Maritime Society and as all I have left of Jean-Luc (other than his spirit) is the boat, I feel this is where I need to be right now. If I felt I had taken a giant leap out of my comfort zone before, now I can't even see my comfort zone. I need to learn to sail, to maintain the boat and to live on my own again. I have received many offers to help and I will take them up on their offers but only I can find the courage within myself to do this. I'm usually the stick my head in the sand kind of person, it was Jean-Luc who challenged me face things head on and now I need him more than ever.
This has been the most difficult three weeks of my entire life. It is hard to describe how incredibly happy we were. When we sailed into Ladysmith on January 4th, we both felt like we had made a great choice. It was a rainy day but we received the warmest welcome at the Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina. Within an hour of arriving we had met several people who we were looking forward to getting to know. There were instant connections and as it became apparent after Jean-Luc's death, we were connected by friends in Revelstoke and Winnipeg and even back in Ontario. There is a reason why we were drawn to this place.
We left Sidney, BC on December 31st and spent New Years Eve and News Years Day in Montague Harbour on Galliano Island. Everything we read about the boating community was true - chance meetings with interesting people, some you would see again and some you may not. From there we went to Conover Cove on Wallace Island for two nights. Again meeting more like minded people. Those four days were perfect winter cruising days - sunshine!!!
Who would believe that in two days our lives would never be the same.
I awoke to a strange sound just before midnight and when I looked out my port light I saw the boat house across the way fully engulfed in flames. I woke Jean-Luc, leapt out of bed and went to warn other live aboards. The family nearest were on the phone to 911 and as another boat house caught fire, I yelled to Jean-Luc that we needed to try and move our boat to safety. Always the calm thinker, he suggested that maybe I should put some shoes on. And then he collapsed in the cockpit of the boat. I won't continue with all the details but I give my gratitude to our neighbours who helped get Jean-Luc off the boat and immediately began CPR. He died at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital.
I have never doubted that the world is full of amazing people, I just didn't know how many were concentrated here - the residents and members of the Ladysmith Maritime Society, the fire fighters, the paramedics, the victims service volunteer and on and on.
I found out later that the doctor who worked on Jean-Luc is a sailor and an author. Jean-Luc and I read and enjoyed his book about his sailing adventure. He and the staff at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital were the most compassionate and professional team.
So what now? I have been welcomed into the family here at the Maritime Society and as all I have left of Jean-Luc (other than his spirit) is the boat, I feel this is where I need to be right now. If I felt I had taken a giant leap out of my comfort zone before, now I can't even see my comfort zone. I need to learn to sail, to maintain the boat and to live on my own again. I have received many offers to help and I will take them up on their offers but only I can find the courage within myself to do this. I'm usually the stick my head in the sand kind of person, it was Jean-Luc who challenged me face things head on and now I need him more than ever.