SAILORS SETTING UP TO SAIL AGAIN SOON

Interesting story for you today sent to me by my good sailing sister Kristin from S/V Nautilus from the US of A.   The picture on the right is of Judy, Diane and I at her cabin at Lake Shawnagin this past week. We have slowly all been connecting again after very full and busy summers of either work and or play with our kidz...that includes grands too.  (Oh, it was such a blessing to cuddle with Patsy and to get to know Stella a wee bit better and watch Angus catch fish in the little brook that runs through their new home at Port Melon. Then of course Brody graduated, Cole and Bradon and Jacob all had another birthday and all our adult kids are doing well and  enjoyed the summer as well.  We are so thankful for such a healthy happy family!!!

Claes and I have put the final touches on the KYE BAY  Resort and all is tucked away for the winter season, with anticipation  of our fine and very well qualified replacements Jane and Fred arriving soon.  The Captain is beginning to pace as we received pictures of the White Shell hanging off the mooring ball in the channel at Bahia del Sol............meeting with S/Vs Salish Sea and Sea Turtle to exchange stories and plans has set up the level of anxiousness to leave land one more time for one more season of sailing.  The Lord willing we hope to depart Victoria October 29th or there whereabouts.

Back to my story: I wonder how many (like him), I've given a dollar to, assuming they were just trying to make some change.  

THE SITUATION  In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. About 4 minutes later:   The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.    At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.  At 10 minutes:  A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.  At 45 minutes:   The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.  After 1 hour:     He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music. This is a true story.  Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.  This experiment raised several questions:        *In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?        *If so, do we stop to appreciate it?        *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?  One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . ..  How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?      Enjoy life NOW... it has an expiration date.