There are some inspiring messages and articles on the subject of the United States and it’s citizens (I am one) regaining peace, stability, sanity!, and decorum. I try to focus on that as well as hoping the next 13 days pass without further mayhem.

I also stay focused on the Vendee Globe 2020, which has provided a look at so many people, all over the world, who are incredible examples of stellar humanity. From the skippers, to their teams, to those reporting on the race, and all of the many suppliers of items for the boats, men and women who have raced around the world and offer their perspective … I know, none are perfect and they are human like the rest of us, but I truly believe that they are the best of the best and I have learned so much by watching, reading and listening.

Vendee Globe is a race around the world. It started (starts) in Les Sables d’Olonee France and finishes there.

It is non stop (vs legs like the Ocean Race formerly the Whitbread). No assistance is allowed, meaning each skipper must repair any breakages or retire from the race if they cannot.

One skipper, Samantha Davies, sailing her third Vendee Globe, repaired in Cape Town, South Africa after hitting a UFO (unidentified floating object) that damaged her keel. She had just gybed (a 30-45-90 minute maneuver) and was fixing a hot meal, just at sunset, when she hit something that brought the boat to a dead stop from 18 Knots of speed. The collision threw her into a bulkhead kind of thing, bruised/cracked ribs and whiplash after affects … BUT, she had to deal with the boat and damage and ultimately limped back to Cape Town.

She repaired in Cape Town, which officially retires her from the race.

But, she continues the ’round the world trip for several reasons: the children that benefit from the charity supported by her sponsors (Initiatives Coeur), to deal with some fear demons following the collision (no idea what it was per public info) and to complete what she started … in the footsteps of other sailors who had somewhat similar experiences: Isabelle Autisier, but also Enda O’Coineen, Nick Moloney,

It cannot be easy to continue on and not be part of the race and be far behind. But as of today, Sam has overtaken the three last of the fleet and will likely overtake others.

Sam finished 4th in her last Vendee Globe and was in the top 10 when she had to retire from this race. She had an excellent chance to finish on the podium (1st 3).

While it had to be heart breaking, her decision to continue … for the children first and herself second … HOO RAH!!!

And today, this video says it all: (the video is in French, but if you turn on CC and select AutoTranslate to English in Settings, you will get English subtitles … but even if you don’t/can’t … the images tell the story)

Go Sam!!

And maybe my small band of readers will head to Instagram or Facebook and like/subscribe, thus contributing to more children being saved. Every like and subscribe adds up to sponsor contribution to Initiatives Coeur.

Initiatives Coeur brings children needing heart surgery, from poor countries, to French host families. The children get life saving operations, recover and return to their families. The vast majority, need no other assistance to lead normal, healthy lives.

In this time of pandemic, of political unrest and poor behavior re both … let us focus on all of the good things, the beautiful things, the people who are giving and living joyfully.

***I hate to give time and words to this, but maybe looking back, I will wonder … what was the ugly thing? Yesterday, January 6, 2021, President Trump and some of the Republican Party (MT Senator Daines among them as well as Rep Rosendale) were complicit in promoting the idea that there was doubt in the outcome of the 2020 election and in the case of the President … of actually inciting violence by a group of thugs that believed all of the above and descended on the U.S. Capitol … armed and doing violence as well as vandalism. The world and most of the U.S. is appalled.