A very sad day
18 January 2009 | Curacao
Well, today we got some awful news: 3 good friends of ours were involved in a serious accident back home and 1 of our friends, Dennis Colbath, didn't survive. We are heartbroken. Dennis and his partner, Steve, are 2 very good friends of ours who were hoping to visit us this year on Scappatella. Several years ago Steve and Dennis joined us sailing in Mexico on "Basta" (Doug Nichoson's boat) for 10 days. This photo was taken in Ballena Bay-? in the Sea of Cortez, where the 4 of us were clamming, trying to avoid the killer crabs that kept attacking our feet. This trip, like many other times with Steve and Dennis, was filled with laughter and great memories! Dennis is - was - a fun-loving, smart, sweetheart of a guy and we will miss him very much. Bob and Linda, our other friends who were involved in the accident are ok, thankfully, although each will have a 3-month healing process from broken ribs (Linda) to a fractured vertebrae & broken clavicle (Bob).
I flew home as our "Caribbean emissary" to attend Dennis' memorial and support our friends. Louis stayed with Scappatella, keeping her safe and continuing the work that needed to be done. It was strange, but very good, to be home again. And I'm so glad I came home - it was good to spend time with Steve, Bob and Linda, and to be among friends while we all shared stories of times with Dennis and collectively mourned his passing. A few days later we continued that process, but in addition celebrated the inauguration of President Barack Obama! A day marked by intense sadness coupled with hope and excitement.