June 19, 2010
By David M. Lawrence and the crew of the SSV Corwith Cramer
In just a few hours it will be Sunday morning. It's not just any Sunday – it is Father's Day. This will be the first Father's Day I've been away from my two children, Malcolm Owain, 13, and Mei Seul, 10. Even worse, I can't even call them – the nearest cell phone tower is hundreds of miles away.
I believe they are on the family vacation that I cannot take with them while on this expedition. I hope they are having fun and not driving their mother, Alison Sinclair, crazy fighting over computer games and DVDs.
I've been away from my kids before, but in every other case I had access to e-mail or a telephone and could talk to them every few days if not every day. I start to get in a funk every time I think about it – it's hard to express how much I miss them – but all I can do is work as hard as I can to make them proud of the work I am doing here on the Plastics at SEA Expedition.
Rationally, I know that what I am doing is important, for the oceans, for humanity – especially for them. Optimistically, I hope that what we do will help trigger a greater awareness of and appreciation of the importance of healthy oceans to all of our survival. I intend to make mine and my kid's sacrifice worth it.
So Malcolm and Mei, I am thinking of you and hope you are enjoying the beginning of your summer break. Please be nice to your mom – you both have a habit of stepping on her last nerve, and she deserves better.
To my dad, George Lawrence, Happy Father's Day. Thanks for helping inspire the sense of adventure that ultimately led me to this expedition. Another Happy Father's Day to my father-in-law, Ian Sinclair. I hope John or Susan (or Bernadette) can tell him that I've now had the pleasure of spending time in the engine room of a working ship – the last time on my boat check at 0700 hours today.
And now we have some messages from the crew to their families.
To my little ones – Alagna, Happy 2nd Birthday, we'll celebrate with a big hug and cake when I get back; Axel, take care of your sister and mama for me, I think about you all the time out here on this big boat. To my papa – happy Fathers Day, hope your trip to the Cape via Europe is going well, see you later in the summer.
Giora
Beloved kids: I began the day, Saturday, at 3:00 a.m., and had an hour on bow watch, headed due east, into the nearly empty mid-Atlantic in time to watch the sun rise over the bowsprit. Off watch all day, but too hot and muggy below to sleep, so I watched the sea, a large container ship, did some laundry in a bucket, and logged sitings of trash and debris until lunch. Afternoon "class" today was "field day", all hands to scrub and scour, hot and sweaty, to rid us of the dreaded "mung" in far cracks and crevices. Our reward, our first swim off the side, gloriously cool and salty and cleansing. Dinner in 10 minutes – PIZZA! – then back on watch, 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., closing yet another long, totally satisfying, day. Tomorrow, Sunday, is Father's Day, so I will be thinking of you both more than I have been in this half frenzy of shipboard life. My love to all and sundry. Know that this trip is the best Father's Day gift I've ever had, and that I'll be calling you before you know it.
Halfway to "there",
Love, Dad (Ted Snedden, Houston, TX. For Tara and Hillary)
Daddy,
Happy Father's Day! I hope you get a day off of work to sit at home, relax, and watch some World Cup soccer! I'm jealous! I don't know if you are following the website updates, but I am having a good time out here, despite the way it might look in some of the pictures, ha. I love you and miss you and I will see you soon (one month from today!) Say hi to Mom, Sami, and Rima for me.
Ana BaHabek, (sorry for the spelling)
Jenan
Happy Fathers Day, Dad! I hope your new job is going well, I listened to 'Almost Cut My Hair' today and thought of you! Enjoy the homerun derby and All-Star game for me! Talk to you soon, miss and love you, Colleen (mt miss you like crazy!)
Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I'm not sure if you have left for Alaska yet, but I wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and that I miss you and Mom. I hope you see this message – maybe Mom will have to convey it to you. Hope all is well on the farm. Love you so much, Sarah
Hi Dad! Missing you on Father's Day. Hope you got out on the boat and did some fishing at least. We went swimming in the ocean today. 3 miles of sea below us. Wowza. Love you lots. – Athena
Hey Dad, Happy Father's day! I miss you and I wish I could be there to celebrate. Hope you have an adventure with Nick and Mom. Also, look out for something special to arrive for you in the mail! Love you, Wendy
Oh Danny Boy! There is only one special one out there...happies day! Them apples don't fall too far from the ship, loves onya. Mom kiss'em fer Tazzie!
Hi Dad! All this sailing makes me remember our adventures on Airborne. Thanks for the great memories! I miss you. Love, Ellie
Hey Cap – had a pretty great notion to go sailing...how about you? Love Forty-Two.
Hi Dad, Mikey and Poppy. Happy Father's Day! We're having a great trip. Thinking of you. Andy, thanks for taking care of all of our 4-legged kids. See you in Bermuda soon.
Love, Marilou
Hey Mom and Dad, things are working out great on board. We only have a few days until we reach the Mid Atlantic Ridge. I just wanted to wish you a Happy Father's day, and enjoy doing absolutely nothing all day!
Love, Jeremy
Hi Mom, Dad, Mo, and Matthew! I am having such a great time on the ship and I only wish all of you could experience this – at least for a day or two. Happy Father's Day, Dad, and happy belated Birthday, Mom! If you had raised a more organized daughter you would have pre-written notes waiting for you around the house, but sadly all you've got is me and you'll just have to wait until I get home. I miss you so much. Enjoy the Hampton's without me!
Love Always,
Meg+
Hey Dad,
Just wanted to tell you that you are my inspiration in life. I aspire to be you when I am grown and I am truly thankful for all that you have taught me over the years. I owe you my compassion, my experiences with tools, my drive to succeed, my honorability, and, most importantly, my ability to surf. Catch some waves for me and give my love to Mom and Ashley.
Love, your son,
Dylan
Hey Dad and Grandpa,
I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you guys to celebrate, but know that I am there in thought. I am having an amazing time on the Cramer again and I know the both of you would love to see what we are doing and experiencing. For all of my travels and experiences, both of you have always been there for support and encouragement and I wanted to say thank you. I love and miss you both and Happy Father's Day! (Tell mom and grandma I said hi!)
Love, Leslie XOXO
Hi Dad! Aloha from the middle of the Atlantic to Molokai! Just want you to know I love you and am thinking of you on Father's Day. You would really love it out here – stars, deep blues, and lots of science! Miss you, Skye
Papa bear,
One ship sails east and another west by the self-same winds that blow. Tis the set of the sails and not the gales that tells us the way we go. Like the winds of the sea are the waves of time as we journey along through life. Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal and not the calm or the strife. I miss you and mom and Sophie and Jack and Kris and Bill more than you guys can imagine. Love your son, Oobie Pie
Heya Pop,
Happy Father's Day! Kick back and take a load off... It's Sunday for pete's sake. All's well out here on the water and I can't wait to catch up with you when we get back to dry land. Miss you much, Ben
Hi Dad! I hope you are having a fantastic day (golf? kayaking? cupcakes? quiet puttering?). Bug Johanna if she forgot your present. All is well out here, but I wish I was having lunch with you guys just now. Lots of love, Sarah L.
Hi Dad (and everyone)! Everything is amazing out here, the sea and skies are beautiful and I'm having a wonderful time with a great group of people. I hope y'all are doing lots of fun and outdoors-y things, making the most of the summer, and not working too hard. Happy Father's Day!! Love, Marina
