Who I Am
Where did my passion for sailing and medical safety come from? Read about it below.
My love for the water
I was born into sailing. I grew up at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. My family owned a beautiful old wooden Q boat when I was young, followed by a Standfast 40, Scampi 30, and 36ft Trojan power boat throughout the years. I remember sleeping in wet bunks in my tiny little foul weather gear while we raced; and bringing the power boat into the slip when I was about 10 years old, my Dad at my side. I would empty Mom’s barf bucket, then join my Dad on the fly bridge to weather storms. I believe it was in those moments that my future career paths were being shaped.
My love for service
As my parents divorced and life got complicated, I fell away from sailing but never ever lost my love of the water. I spent 25 years as an emergency room nurse in a busy rural hospital in Door County, WI -- as well as raising children. After my own divorce, my Dad asked if I’d like to go to the yacht club for a visit. I hadn’t been there in 30 years, so the answer was, “Heck yes!” The moment I walked in the door, I knew I was home.
Bringing the two together
I re-embraced my passion for sailing, discovered boat deliveries, earned my captain’s license and ASA instructor certification. I also maintain my RN license and associated critical care certifications. Then I developed a curriculum to teach onboard emergency medicine. And, once again, I knew I was home.
I have these two worlds that mean so much to me: service and the water. Serendipitously, they came together. I love it when that happens...
