Archive for gratitude
1706 people almost died suddenly as our Italian luxury liner, Andrea Doria, was penetrated by the Swedish liner, Stockholm. My grandparents and I were immigrating to America (from Italy) as we experienced the most catastrophic collision in history during peacetime on July 25, 1956. There were 51 fatalities and hundreds of injured passengers as many were crushed, thrown, overwhelmed by fumes, or catapulted onto the Stockholm.
The most traumatic moments are indelible from my mind: the loud crash, praying for a merciful death, being dangled over the dark Atlantic with a rope around my waist, the packed lifeboat ride from hell, climbing a ’skyscraper’ rescue ship on a Jacob’s ladder, and more.
I have learned that on the other side of tragedy, there is always a lifeline–gratitude! The catastrophe gave me the opportunity to be grateful for:
*documenting the human and scientific facts in a book, “Alive on the Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue in History. www.pierettesimpson.com
*thanking my grandparents for bringing me to America by dedicating my book to them
*vindicating our captain, crew, and the Italian maritime industry
*becoming a proponent of safety at sea along with the national chairman of marine forensics (James Cameron’s consultant)
My view of life is that we have two choices when faced with survival: sink or swin. I’ve been swimming to safe harbors in spite of several major trials–my husband’s passing at 33, severance from family ties in Italy and the U.S., loneliness, and personal illness. I’m grateful for all of these experiences as they have made me stronger.
I’ve learned to live my life to the brim: writing, speaking, advocating marine safety, etc. (after 37 years of teaching.) As a result, I’ve been honored with many life-achievement awards. I’ve also learned that in order to survive, we must constantly adapt—even if it means re-inventing ourselves.
I believe in the wisdom of Charles Darwin: in order to survive we must be “most responsive to change.”
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Survivor Stories | andrea doria, change, collisions on the Atlantic, gratitude, shipwreck fatalities, shipwrecks, Stockholm, survival|No Comments
You’re wondering what this post celebrating summer has to do with saving our seas, right?
After reading the narrative below and watching Louis Armstrong sing “It’s a Wonderful World” –one more time, I asked myself: would the jazz man from New Orleans still think it’s a wonderful world after two recent disasters in his beloved state? The breaking of the levies during Katrina , and now the rupture of BP’s oil pipe have broken many spirits along with many livelihoods. Will the people of the Gulf be able to sing once again “It’s a Wonderful World”? I hope they do, sooner rather than later, assuming we ALL make a commitment to save our seas. We will be able to do this once we are truly GRATEFULL for our beautiful and plentiful seas.
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“Sun-drenched days and starlit nights.
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and the birds are singing.
I AM SO GRATEFUL for the lazy, hazy days of summer.
The click of croquet balls rebound across manicured turf,
The cool tingle of a root beer floot satisfies a deep thirst,
Straw bonnets tug against their ribbons on a breezy day,
And barbershop quartets harmonize in the good old summertime.
I AM SO GRATEFUL for relaxing under an oak tree.
A bird’s sweet song murmurs in my ears,
Children’s laughter drifts through the air,
Before dozing off for an afternoon siesta
I think to myself, “It’s a wonderful world.”
YES, IT’S A WONDERFUL WORLD!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8JkJdfeSQ&feature=PlayL
Filed under: Uncategorized | BP oil disaster, gratitude, It's a Wonderful World, Katrina disaster, Louis Armstrong|No Comments
The following excerpt is the ending to my short story in the Thank God I…book series. It expresses my gratitude for what I’ve learned from being part of the most calamitous collision at sea AND the greatest sea rescue in peacetime history.
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• • •I am grateful for the catastrophe that taught me resilience, thereby bringing my life full circle: I am embracing heartily my Italian roots and reconnecting to my American family, creating new lifelines in the process. Being the author of one’s catastrophic experience can be a painful process, but the results are revealing and enlightening I realize that retelling the Andrea Doria story ran parallel to my inner struggle: when I felt weak, I buried it; as I grew stronger, I faced it, thus becoming its heroine. Do I still feel pain for my grandparents’ ultimate sacrifice of leaving their homeland, then forgoing me as a “daughter”? Certainly, but I surrender to its reality with more grace when my mother’s praise reminds me of the blessings: “Your grandparents would be so proud that your book vindicates your fellow Italians for the Andrea Doria tragedy.” Moreover, I’ve released the pain held within the series of abandonments, embracing new relationships with excitement.
Overall, I feel better prepared for treading on rough waters, grateful for having taken many lifeboats to transcendence. I’m confident that with future challenges, I will steadily climb another rope like the one that dangled along the side of the Ile de France, accepting another good fight in the miracle of life. Knowing that the Andrea Doria was my training ground for courage, I will gratefully say, “Thank God that traveling on the ill-fated liner steered me toward a life journey that I claim as my legend!”
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | andrea doria, gratitude, Ile de France, Thank God I...book series, the greatest sea rescue|2 Comments
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