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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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There's good people here-but you knew that already

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/12/2006 : 20:15:48

Hi Folks
The other day I got an E-mail from one of our members telling me that he realized, when thinking of wing keels, that I haven't posted in a while. He said he hoped that everyting was OK, and that to come back.
That made me feel really good, and I needed it.
You see, my Mom had surgery, then complications, then passed away.
I have been quite busy as you may guesse. Still busy with being the executor of the estate.
I have sailed three times the last three weeks. Twice as crew for Dwight Guinn, an excellent racer, and charter member of Fleet 89. (His 89 wing is even prettier than mine) He is patient with a dumbass like me, a great teacher, and I'm actually starting to like racing (has nothing to do with our other crew member, who is a total babe, married, but all the good ones are you know, isn't that what women say about men?)

You know, I have never actually met any of you folks in person, but I can tell that if we lived in close proximity, we would probably be great friends. And friends can sometimes be as much a comfort as family. When friends do something nice, it's truly because they want to.
When I came back from my Mom's funeral, I learned that one of my good sailing friends has terminal cancer. Yesterday another old friend was buried, she had uterine cancer, and was only 60. I'm tired of people I care about getting cancer. Three members of my high school swim team have died of cancer.

So I guesse the whole point of my pointless rambling is to say that I really appreciate being part of this group, and maybe in the future I'll get more active. This association certainly deserves all the support we members can give it, and each other.

Thanks--I promise my next post will be more upbeat.

Frank Gloss
Formerly 89WK/TR
85 Ericson 32-3 shoal draft "Molto Bene"

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 21:46:59

Frank,

I've always stressed this place was about stuff that went well beyond sailing. I'm very sorry to hear of your losses. Very happy your beginning to get interested in Racing.

Hang in there and feel free to contact me if you need to rap...

duane

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 22:48:17

Its people like you Frank, that make this forum the great place that it is.
Keep your chin up and remember that your friends reside here at the ready.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 23:23:11

Hi again, Frank... I seem to recall that you knew about my loss--my 39-year-love-of-my-life with whom I bought Passage... It was cancer, and she was 57. Unfortunately, I've reached the age where this will be happening all around me until it happens to me. But I can also report that wonderful things can happen--an amazing woman, an exciting new boat, some incredible accomplishments of my two daughters... I have concluded that I should accept the inevitable losses and be grateful for every bright spot! It took a while to get to this point--my loss was unimaginable to me--but things are definitely looking up.

All of this prefaces my agreement that this community is priceless! It really helped me get through my lowest point. My post-total (GOOD GRIEF!) is evidence that I have leaned on this group a lot in the past few years... I've met only a few, and they were the best! I think there's something about this category of boats that attracts people who have no pretenses, have good judgement, and are just plain nice! I hope I can claim to be one of them--even though I'm moving over to the "Dark Side"...

I'm confident things will look up for you--the "circle of life" is what it is, but life can be good if you focus on the best parts!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/12/2006 23:29:17

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2006 : 01:24:58

While in college I remember watching my grandparents going through a period of time like you are going through Frank. I was pretty clueless, but even I was aware that what they were going through was HARD. I know it got better for them, just like for Dave. Hang in there and thanks for letting us all in on what is going on in your life. I know you will find nothing but positive support from the group that frequent this formum and have enjoyed your posts for so long.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2006 : 01:28:55

Thanks for your sharing as I too sail for a lot of friends. The great people I have met from the Forum really have been high points and can't wait to meet more. My brother has just come together with a great lady after the loss of his first wife who was 57. Their new story has sure made all of us very happy and they hope to sail with me in the San Juans this next season.

I sailed this afternoon with some close friends and we talked of our friends with whom we have sailed. Tomorrow the boat comes home for the winter so it was a very special sail today. The Forum is a special place too.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2006 : 09:17:11

Frank, I am sure you have not caught up on your reading on the forum but you have been missed, your a great contributor. Those of us who have been around a while know how silly our "rank" is as a poster, the real ranking comes from your making a difference to others. You have always made a difference on this board, your posts always entertain and provoke coversation. We are all sorry for your pain and regret the source, life is so wonderful that the hard times seems so out of place and we are so poorly prepared for them. Welcome back.

Edited by - on

dphalsmer
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2006 : 10:38:25

I just want to say thanks to all of you experienced guys who contribute soo much on this forum. I'm a newbie and trying to soak up as much as I can. The technical info is great! And, the encouragement really helps build my confidence. I feel like, if I ever got the chance to sail with any of you it would be a great exprience! You guys make this forum awesome!

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2006 : 15:14:10

Thanks everyone for the kind words and support.

You know I'm only 55. It's too soon to be losing so many people.

But meeting folks like you helps out a lot.

Fair winds, everyone.

So Dave, what is the dark side? You aren't buying a MacGregor are you?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2006 : 11:02:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 So Dave, what is the dark side? You aren't buying a MacGregor are you?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Eegads, no!! I'm having something built... Film at 11...

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2006 : 21:07:06

Hi Frank. I'm sorry to hear about your Mom. I lost my Mom this summer as well after a sudden and short illness. It really just jumbles your entire world. Sailing let me forget things for a while, but even that was new this year since we sold our old familiar C250 & moved up this spring.

She was only 63. So now I'm 39, an only child, & have no parents left (my Dad died in 2001 also at the age of 63). I wasn't quite ready for that yet. Thank goodness fo my husbankd & I'm lucky to have a great sister-in-law & Aunt-in-law (almost like a 2nd Mother to my husband). The good news in I've gotten back in touch with my Uncles & cousins back north that I'd really not spent much time with in the past 16 years. I'm sure somehow all this will make us stronger some day although it's hard to understand Why now.

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. You're right - this forum is an wonderful thing that brings people from such different locations together in an amazing community.

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

Members Avatar

406 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2006 : 21:44:52

Frank, Keep smiling and posting..we are here for you.. Going to the dark side is going to a Hunter.. :)

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 07:04:36

Frank, thanks for making the original post.
We all share the benefit of this forum membeship, and the expertise and technical exchange is of huge value. But for me it is the membership sharing more of their daily joys and challenges that makes it so much more than a 'forum' it's more of a family (heck, I comminicate more with the folks here than I do with my family worldwide!).
I have only met 2 members of the forum, that I know of, Jesse and Don. Don was en-route to a big boat cruise with his wife last year, and Jesse came down to Key Largo last month where we sailed a while. That meeting with Jesse was worth membership dues for life! Actually sharing, be it ever so brief, with the owner of another Catalina enthusiast was awesome (We are not alone and there is life outside the virtual).

So again, thanks for putting into words one very important aspect of this group that most of us take for granted.

Paul.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2006 : 12:19:07

Cathy,
No, you didn't "hijack" my thread. You enhanced it.

I have also re-connected with some cousins, aunts and uncles at Mom's funeral. I too see the value in that. I even invited one of my favorite uncles to come sailing. This guy even had the guts to go out with me on the sailboat that I built when I was 13.

Getting involved with racing the past few weeks has really helped me out too.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2006 : 17:01:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 ...Going to the dark side is going to a Hunter.. :)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
No, that's just making a mistake.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2006 : 17:10:33

do the hunter guys sit around and bash the catalina guys or are they just to ignorant?

ps - I'd buy a hunter if the price was 2 dollars and the boat was new.....

Edited by - on

pwhallon
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2006 : 13:41:30

Hi Frank,

So sorry to hear of your Mom passing away.

I too have several friends fighting cancer. It's a bummer. Very saddening. Must pray often for them.

I haven't posted much in a while either and have often thought of you.

Glad to hear from you. Sorry to hear you have been through so much sad stuff.

I hope you'll get in another of your epic Keys trips soon.

Good winds,

Paul

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2006 : 17:46:30

Peace be with you and yours, Frank. May you be comforted by happy memories of your Mom's love and care, and by the conviction that she is past all pain and sorrow. All of us who sail know that there is more to life than what can be seen by the eye -- in both Greek and Hebrew, the words for wind and spirit are the same (pneuma and ruah, respectively).

There is nothing like illness or the death of a loved one to get our attention and encourage us to examine our priorities. This thread is certainly not about me, but I had successful surgery for prostate cancer August 30. One of my resolutions is to love and play more in the future, and work and worry less. May something like that happen for you as well.

Brooke

PS: Men, if you're over 40, get an annual PSA exam along with your annual physical. Prostate cancer can be cured when detected early. And, with new robotic laproscopic surgery like I had, you can completely recover in a matter of weeks or months. Completely -- FULL functionality. Any questions?

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 10/21/2006 17:52:11

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2006 : 09:10:13

PS: Men, if you're over 40, get an annual PSA exam along with your annual physical. Prostate cancer can be cured when detected early. - Brooke

An excellent point, Brooke. After a short, four-month fight, I lost my sister to cancer on September 1st ... it was both a devastating blow and a wake-up call. After having gone for five years without health insurance (or even seeing a doctor), I'm trying to make up for lost time. My PSA test results were excellent, and I'm getting both a colonoscopy and an endoscopy the day after tomorrow.

BTW, I used to be a pharmaceutical rep, and for a while I was a prostate cancer specialist. Brooke is right ... the earlier the detection, the better your chances of beating prostate cancer. The new procedures of today are a huge improvement over the past ... you don't have to make a choice between surgery and your sex life anymore.

Edited by - on

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