Storm at Sea

Someone I know shared this graphic on Facebook the other day and I thought it was profound. 

My boat is a pretty sturdy one and I share it with a good husband and a fairly decent dog. I have a friend, though, who is alone in her boat and while she's a fine oarswoman, it seems as though her boat has sprung a tiny leak. She's struggling. 

There are lots of different kinds of boats; there are large and small ones, there are prams and canoes and skiffs, motorboats and sailboats. Some are seaworthy in almost any weather condition; others tend to capsize under too strong a wind.

I'm managing my boat fairly well. After all, I have a co-captain who just happens to be an expert sailor. But sometimes we hit a point in the storm where the sailing is far from smooth and I'm really, really glad I have a lifejacket. 

We're all in the same storm, but not the same boat. Depending on circumstances, we have different reactions, different ways of keeping our boats afloat.

During this time of self-isolation, most of us have hours -- or days -- where keeping that boat upright is challenging. It's not as if all of the other stresses and issues in our lives have magically gone away so that we can deal with the loneliness, the confinement, the financial worries, and the fear that Covid-19 produces.

This picture helps me remember all of that.

Until today I'd heard of the Storm at Sea quilt block, but never looked it up. Today I did. It's complicated! Just as it should be.




Comments

Quiltdivajulie said…
A beautiful post - THANK YOU!
Anonymous said…
What a absolutely thought provoking graphic. And your comments are so insightful. To many this is an inconvenience, to others it is gut wrenchingly hard. There are lessons to be learned for all no matter what boat you are in. And yes we need that life jacket and I pray that we all recognized that before the storm. Dotti
Margaret said…
Wise and compassionate words, friend. Prayers for smoother sailing and a watertight boat ahead!
Janet O. said…
Such a well spoken post, Nancy! I can't imagine how hard this is for people who are truly alone--and may have lost a source of income. That is a great graphic to help us remember that, as you said, we may be in the same storm, but not the same boat.
BTW, the quilt currently on my bed is a Storm at Sea in blue and white. My mother made it for us before the days of rotary cutters and rulers. Each piece was traced with a cardboard template she made from a cereal box, and cut out with scissors.
Barbara Anne said…
Wonderful post and graphic. Your words are so true as some of us are better equipped to handle this crisis than others are.

I've long intended to make a Storm at Sea quilt and have a box of fabrics set aside for that purpose. Perhaps in the days ahead I'll master those side center block units (I've found them daunting) and will forge ahead to make this quilt. I think I'll look about on-line to see if someone has found a brilliant way to make those block units.

Hugs!
Robby said…
Such a good illustration! We are fortunate that this seems to mostly be a frustration but not a burden. Recognizing that, we've been trying to be watchful of places we can offer some little port in the storm to those who can use it. Harder to do from home, but definitely worth the effort.
Judi said…
Brilliant post, Nancy - so eloquently put.

The Storm at Sea block is a tricky one, because you are trying to match up a 45 degree angle with a 60 degree one. I have been thinking for a long time of a "better" way to do it and have an idea.

Maybe I'll have a go at it during the next few weeks - it will make a change from making masks!