Once again, I write with a heavy heart. If not heavier.
We've all seen the movie "The Perfect Storm." A movie about a Sword Fishing boat, that gets stuck in a hurricane and sinks, taking the crew's lives. Based on a true story as well. As the movie ends, you think about it but you can't ever imagine it happening. ever. You tell yourself it never will... because you can't physically imagine something so tragic happening.
The past few days I've experienced a hard dose of reality. My heart is breaking with every hour that passes, finding out more and more information.
Earlier this week I woke up just like any other morning, made my coffee, ate breakfast, texted people back from messages throughout the night. I got one message that said "Today is going to be the worst day of me life" .... Taken aback I asked why. "5 of my best friends are missing...their boat capsized." My heart dropped. One guy in January, and now 5 in February. Will it ever stop??
I read articles upon articles about the missing vessel, heard stories about the crew, how good of a bunch of guys they were. What breaks my heart the most, these guys had kids....families. Young babies that will never grow up to dance wth their dad at their wedding, or be a daddy's girl or even know their dad. Their dad on the other hand, saw their first steps, their first word, but some.... not even their first birthday. They'll never see their first day of school, prom, graduation..... nothing.
So much tragedy has hit our little fishing communities lately, and it really makes a person wonder. When the boys go out and danger hits, what are they thinking? what are they doing? So many thoughts go through a person's head.
To the guys out there, I'm at loss for words. I'm a fisherman's daughter. He's fallen overboard on a few occassions, and it terrifies me when he goes out. I cannot imagine what your families are going through. With such little hope left, one can only hope for a miracle. I may not know you, but as a member of a fishing village, I can't help feel greif.... and ask Why? Why take 5 young guys with their entire lives ahead of them. Why take 5 young guys, some of which have babies and children. I cannot wrap my head around the idea that 5 more lives are lost, to the sea.
We all live in little fishing villages. Sure we all compete with one another for the most fish, the most lobster, the most anything. But growing up here, I realized that when tragedy strikes.. everyone comes together and supports each other. I see fisherman who didn't know these boys carry a heavy heart. I didn't know them, I have a mutual friend with the boys and I carry a heavy heart, as most nova scotians from this end of the province are.
Until the other side boys, rest easy. We'll all miss you.
............
May you rest easy long-liners, In fair winds and calm seas.
For those of us left behind, the vast unmarked grave which is home for those lost at sea is no consolation.
It cant be visited. There is no headstone on which to rest a bunch of flowers. The only place we can visit them is in our hearts or in our dreams. They say sword fisherman ( in this case Halibut ) suffer from a lack of dreams. That's what begets their courage. Well, we'll dream for you, Katlin, Joel, Cole, Tyson and Billy.
Sleep well. Good Night.
- The Perfect Storm.
