Cruising - Team Rogers

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Life's Too Short

It's January and we are fully entrenched in our world at home in Minnesota. Life has grabbed us by the calendar and is holding us hostage. We'd rather be aboard our Alberg 35 S/V Mystic but she is resting on a cradle in St. Augustine, Florida and we are "Up North", waiting on spring.

Winter reflection of our home ~ Photo by Pat Murphy

We have completed over half of America's Great Loop, traveling over 3,500 miles from Knife River, Minnesota to St. Augustine, Florida. Our journey has been on hold for much longer than our initial 10 months of cruising. This was due to unexpected life events. Once we get through this winter we will return to our adventures on the water.

Our Great Loop Progress In Red

We spent mid October through mid November 2018 in St Augustine, working on projects aboard Mystic. The weather was unseasonably warm, which was a treat for us! When we returned to Minnesota, the temps were already frigid. Like last year, it appears we will have to endure a season of ice. By the end of January, the temperature dipped down to -36. Our world in the Great White North screeched to a halt. Outside activity is accompanied with the risk of frostbite so everyone hunkers down, keeping an eye on their plumbing while drinking warm beverages. We can't help thinking that we have our schedule backward. We should be aboard Mystic in tropical waters over the winter months and in Minnesota during the gorgeous summer weather. We need to work on that plan!

We're both working to take advantage of the opportunity to refill our cruising kitty. It helps pass the time but I forgot how stressful rush hour traffic can be, especially during the winter. We look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.

BRRR! -36 F

The Bahama Islands have always been on our lists of places to cruise. It is considered a "side trip" on the Great Loop. Since our boat is already on the Atlantic Ocean, now is the time for us to make that trip. Instead of heading straight north toward New York City, we'll take a detour to the islands first. We are excited to accompany Mucho Gusto for this part of our adventure. It's always been more fun sharing our experiences with our buddy boat friends Scott and Rhonda Joiner.

Hoping to explore these Islands for 4-6 weeks in 2019

Winter in the north isn't all bad. We find ways to survive the polar temps that visit us now and then. This winter we've enjoyed spending time with family and friends, attending our favorite winter festivals and adding a few new microbreweries to our national Great Loop list. (Rochester Microbrew tour 2019 at Little Thistle, Life's Too Short, Kinney Creek & Forager) Wherever we are; we make memories through experiences!

Dave & Tiffany at Forager

Makayla & Luke become part of the mural at Forager

Tiffany & Beth at LTS

Makayla and Tiffany at Forager

Tiffany at Little Thistle

Dave & Luke at LTS

Luke & Tiffany at LTS

Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.

Conan O'Brien

Friday, December 28, 2018

Time

TIME has become an issue for me. It started right around my 50th birthday when I realized I'd summited the proverbial "hill" and stood there looking over the other side at the steep drop. Suddenly, it felt like I just didn't have enough time left! There is so much I still want to do, yet I find myself facing the other side of life, the final chapters. Feeling stressed for time creates stress. Often, I find that I can't sleep and I have a habit of over-extending myself, just to get everything in. I try to be an optimist and I understand that these feelings are not all negative. In fact, I keep getting better at recognizing and letting go of those things that hold little importance to me like drama, anger and regret. I have no desire to waste any time on trivial things or negative emotions!

50th Birthday Celebration,
still looking younger than the number on the cake

The importance of time is not new to me, but it was brought home recently when we lost our close friend, Laurie Michael Kumerow, to glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor. Laurie has been a part of our lives for all of time. She and I each married hometown Stillwater boys. We raised our children together, cross-country skied, went on vacations, celebrated milestones and shared many nights around a fire pit. She was a wonderful wife to Tim and a dedicated mother to her girls, Nicky and Katie. Laurie was an environmentalists, outdoorswoman, and adventurer. She lived life large! My life was blessed with her friendship.

"The Stillwater Gang" at Tim & Laurie's Cabin

When Laurie was diagnosed with glioblastoma the fall of 2017, she asked me for wisdom because I had been through the cancer diagnosis only a year earlier. I told Laurie I had no wisdom; each cancer experience is unique. I knew the battle Laurie was facing though. Glioblastoma is the worst possible diagnosis one can receive in the brain tumor world. Laurie had options and TIME on her side, but the clock was boldly looking her in the eye! Still, I had hope that she would beat this.

Laurie had surgery which removed 80% of the tumor. A few months later we gathered with a group of friends. Laurie sat next to me and reached over to touch my sleeve. When I looked in her eyes, I saw tears. She said she'd been researching her illness and understood how serious her situation was. I took her hand in mine and said, "Laurie, the truth is, we are all dying. No one gets out alive! You just have more urgency to live the way you really want to. We are here to support you. Look around you, all of these people are here for you. Can you feel the love?" Laurie composed herself and agreed that she had a wonderful life, except for that damn brain tumor.

Laurie had a great summer! She and Tim spent many an afternoon on the patio of the local pubs, watching the world go by, enjoying a cold beer and time together. In the fall, Laurie's health took a turn for the worse. In spite of this, her family organized a group of over 35 family members and friends to walk the American Brain Tumor Association BT5K. Together we raised over $6,000 with Team Laurie's Legions. It was an emotional day, full of love and devotion. On some level, we all sensed that Laurie was failing, yet, on this day, she was with us 100%. The experience remains a beautiful, cherished memory for me. As we walked, I asked Laurie again " Do you feel the love?" She smiled at me and nodded her head, YES!

Laurie with Carol Durtschi At BT5K

Laurie lost her 14 month battle with glioblastoma multiforme on November 13, 2018. She quietly slipped away with her family at her side. We attended the celebration of her life. It was a day for family and friends to toast Laurie and to relive her remarkable life in photos and stories.

I think of Laurie every day. It's hard to accept that she is gone. She is a reminder for me to enjoy each and every moment I am blessed with...just like she did!

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

― Mother Theresa