Friday 1 December 2006

Edmund Fitzgerald on my mind


"Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
If they’d put 15 more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
May have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters"
- Gordon Lightfoot, 1976

Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which tells the tragedy of the 29 men who died in November '75 on this “big lake they call Gitche Gumee’’, has haunted me for many years. How ironic, then, that we're here on the calmest of summer days, watching the girls play D-O-N-K-E-Y in a lake that can turn from dead calm to deadly in the blink of an eye. Later, as the sun goes down and the temperature starts to plummet, I think of the ghosts Superior will never give up and I'm grateful my girls will never know what it’s like to wait, and hope, for a daddy missing at sea.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nancy, Great inspiration for all the people who think they can't do what you guys are doing.
The sights, sounds, people, places etc. that the kids will experience are just innumerable.
Just remember it's your adventure as well and do the cool stuff for yourself and the savage to.
Happy trails guys.

Nancy Harper said...

Thanks Tazzie! Don't worry, we won't forget it's our adventure too. Promise!

Puts said...

Hey Harps,
Glad you are having fun and along the lines of Tazzie's comments...you have always been an inspiration for all of us to follow our dreams! You need to work harder with me as i am still taking the subway to my cubicle daily....never did have your free spirit! We miss you in canada!
If there are any publishers out there reading this....pick up the phone! Hi to Doog and the girls,
Mary

david mcmahon said...

Very evocative, Nancy,
I'm enjoying your blog - and not just because I'm also a Gordon Lightfoot fan.
Cheers
David

Susie said...

Nancy - oh how envious I am when I read of your adventures and see the wonderful pictures of you and your family. Such a great adventure...you truly have two of the luckiest little girls to have a mom and dad who are willing to forget the rat race to be together and experience life! Have fun! Sue

Nancy Harper said...

Thanks for all your support guys. Appreciate it! Now if only I can get Doog to agree it's worth the trip to Borneo....