a year goes by

Posted by derrick on February 9, 2008

In a house draped in net
In a room filled with coral
Sails at the window
Forests of masts
Put your hand over the side of the boat
Put your hand over the side of the boat
What do you feel?
- kate bush

A year goes by so quickly.  On February 9th of last year a garbled distress call was the beginning of some dark days in the kayaking community. What was to be a celebration of an amazing accomplishment turned quickly into deep sadness.  Andrew McCauley we learned had lost his life just miles off Milford Sound on New Zealand’s south Island.

Since then his motives and actions have been filtered through the sieve of every opinion and word view.  All the while his wife and friend, Vicki McAuley had no choice but to keep moving ahead. She of course had young Finlay to look after.  Every one of us who has been through loss in our lives knows how the cycle goes.  For awhile and usually when you are too numb to really take it in, all the world seems to rally to your side.  The world moves in a strange bubble that sits just outside of your reality. Then as time passes all but those most close to you slip away back into their own lives.  There’s no way around it. In the end, you have to choice but take it all upon yourself and find a way forward.  A year as I said, goes by so quickly.  I hope today we not only take a moment to remember Andrew and his great accomplishments, but we also can send a message out to Vicki & Finlay that they are still in our hearts and minds.  Life is after all an adventure and we want to continue to encourage and support  Andrew’s family as they keep pushing ahead on their journey as well.