Confessions of an Island Ostrich

I have a bad habit of burying my head in the sand.  When the going gets touch, I don't face it, I simply ram my head down into the sand, close my eyes and hope for the best.  It's not a good trait.

My favourite example was when we were on our tiny boat in Bequia.  We had my whole family on the boat for Christmas.  Too many people in too small a space.  We were trying to find a spot to anchor in an already full anchorage.  There was one spot with boats far enough away to please my introvert husband.  He was up the front of the boat, getting ready to drop the anchor as I steered the boat into the position.  The depth sounder showed 2 foot under the keel, we kept inching forward.  1 foot under the keel, still I inched her forward.  6 inches under the keel and my mum pipes up and says "Kim, you better say something!!!!".  I think I actually had my eyes closed.  I meekly confessed to my husband, he calmly moved us away and we scraped the bottom of the keel across the sand.  Lucky escape, cleaned the barnacles off the bottom.  Somehow we avoided the husband / wife screaming session that is so common when anchoring, probably because we had visitors on board.  Here I am around that time... so young !

Fast forward 15 years and here comes Hurricane Irma.  Getting over the fear of my own close call with Irma in Florida, and feeling sick at the losses some of my very dear friends are facing, I boarded the plane back to Australia.  Back home to my husband, kids, family, my little safe zone of my nearly finished home in my lush green valley near the beach in Australia.  Here we are last week on my birthday...

 I have continued to scroll social media, feeling sick with the increasing images of devastation, burying my head... I need to do something.... what can I do?.... how can I help? ...How can I possibly do anything?

 I contacted a friend in St.Maarten who I know every Christmas delivers gifts and food packages to the poor communities on the island.  She has been evacuated from the island with her 2 kids, her husband left behind to pick up the pieces of their own lives, whilst borrowing a generator from a friend who's house was blown away, to get their pizza store back up and running to feed the masses.  Free food for volunteers.  Amazing what people do!   I need to do something.... what can I do?.... how can I help? ...How can I possibly do anything?

I suggested to her that I want to donate a bunch of clothing to be shipped down there and perhaps some of my island followers might like to send some too.  Perhaps she could organise distribution to those who have lost everything I said.  She loved the idea but suggested they do it as a "designer sale" even if they charge $1 a piece for example.  Moral is as important as a roof she said.  So wise ! BUT we have to wait she said.  The island is under Dutch Military control and it can't be done for a while she said.  OK, but I need to do something.... what can I do?.... how can I help? ...How can I possibly do anything?

Yesterday I woke up to this email from Denise in Boca Raton....