By Jordi St. John

South Carolinia is just what team Audax needed! Warm weather, a first swim, porpoises swimming along with the boat, and visiting friends. Georgia and her husband Brian were great dinner hosts while we were in Charleston and it is always fun catching up with Small Pointers out side of Small Point, Maine!

On my own personal note I have experienced sadness but confirmation that this trip is what I need to be doing. I got a call yesterday from a few of the skiers I coached last winter at Bates telling me that Connor Cushman (a Bates nordic skier) father, Pat died on Sunday while out nordic skiing. A few of the Bates kids happened to be skiing with him and did CPR to try and save him but by the time the EMTs arrived Pat had passed away. Pat was one of the most healthy and in shape father I know. He loved to ski and ride road bikes and always interested in new training techniques. The Bates team is really close and I am sure will help Connor in what I believe is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. After many thoughts about my own father, my friend Clinton, and all the other close people that have died, I realize how important it is to make the most out of life and take advantage of it’s possibilities! This trip is amazing and I am so glad to be here experiencing new things along with John and Steve, and just living up all that life has to offer.

Hope this finds all of you doing well, enjoying the holidays and being with the people you love.