- Total
- General
- Arts
- Book
- Culture
- Economy
- Essay
- Fun/Joke
- History
- Hobbies
- Info
- Life
- Medical
- Movie
- Music
- Nature
- News
- Notice
- Opinion
- Philosophy
- Photo
- Poem
- Politics
- Science
- Sports
- Travel
General A Remarkable Real Story
2010.04.02 00:13
Thursday, April 1, 2010 2:03pm PDT
California surfer receives whale of an escort during marathon paddle
By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com
When Southern California surfer Jodie Nelson set out Sunday to standup-paddle nearly 40 miles from Santa Catalina Island to Dana Point, she hoped it'd inspire her best friend, who has been involved in a long and exhausting struggle with breast cancer, to keep fighting.
Nelson, 34, whose mother and aunt are cancer survivors, also hoped her nine-hour test of endurance would raise money for two cancer charities and heighten awareness about a plight affecting millions of women.
What Nelson could not have known was that a 30-foot minke whale would swim alongside her 14-foot board and accompany the surfer as she stood and paddled for two of those nine hours, thus joining the cause.
"It was a day that all of us involved will never forget," Nelson said, in reference to Angela Robinson, her best friend, and the rest of a crew aboard an escort boat.
Minke whales are not commonly seen off Southern California, and those spotted by boaters are often elusive. So when a mammal Nelson named Larry joined her endeavor to become the first woman to make this long paddle, she took it as a sign.
"To me it was a total God thing," the San Clemente resident said. "We prayed at 4 that morning that God would reveal his beauty and creation and nature, and allow me to endure this long trek, so for me it's not such a huge surprise that this happened."
Larry did not merely swim close to Nelson. He rolled around repeatedly alongside her and blew bubbles beneath her board. A film crew was on the escort boat and CNN, Fox News and ABC are just some of the networks she says are interested in the story and footage.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, an American Cetacean Society whale researcher, said minke whales can be friendly but added: "This type of quality encounter is highly unusual."
Nelson raised only about $6,000 in advance of the paddle, disappoingtingly short of her target of $100,000 for the Keep a Breast Foundation and Boarding for Breast Cancer. A few of her celebrity friends let her down, she said, but when this story reaches a national audience she expects the pool to grow considerably.
"I thought, 'I don't need so-and-so,' " she said of a particular celebrity, whom she declined to name. "Because I honestly feel like Larry is going to help us reach the $100,000 mark with our fundraising effort."
Larry or no Larry, completing a standup paddle over 39.8 miles of ocean and sharks speaks volumes about Nelson's strength, stamina and determination.
Larry took her mind off the task for two magical hours, but her mind never strayed from the cause. "I can't even begin to compare what I did to what cancer patients are going through," she said. "But I wanted to put myself out there in a dangerous and scary, overwhelming situation; something that was big and just to show people that you can win that battle with that big, scary thing called cancer.
"I wanted to draw some kind of parallel and just encourage people to keep fighting."
Those wanting to help Jodie with her mission can do so via her page on the Keep a Breast Foundation website.
Text from the Internet by Hahn Joong Lee, Music, Agnus Dai, Webpage by Sukjoo
California surfer receives whale of an escort during marathon paddle By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com When Southern California surfer Jodie Nelson set out Sunday to standup-paddle nearly 40 miles from Santa Catalina Island to Dana Point, she hoped it'd inspire her best friend, who has been involved in a long and exhausting struggle with breast cancer, to keep fighting. |
Comment 7
-
운영자
2010.04.02 06:06
-
이한중*65
2010.04.02 13:55
Thank you, WM, for your mature comments.
Most of us at a late age have experienced in our life times
something like what Jodie Neson experienced, i.e. God's Grace.
Some of us may not have realized them at those times, but later one we wonder how all that happened in such a way.
Even if some of us are not religious, we may realize that it seems to be too much for us to call all of that as nothing but mere compounded coincidences.
What grabed me in reading this story was her statement, ".... for me it is not a huge surprise thing that this(minke whale thing) happened."
This casual statement tells me clearly how much and how hard she had wanted to do this with God's help.
And she knew HE was helping her.
As I'm getting older and pay more attention to any signs of God in action among all the human affairs including personal as well as community and all the human endeavors in the written history of humans, I cannot help noticing all those signs and get encouraged by them. As a matter of fact, I've been personally more strengthened to move on with greater courage and determination.
As a young man, I used to ignore them and brushed them aside as nothing but curiosities.
Nobody knows why the minke whale which normally shuns humans
decided to accompany her for two hours.
Only God knows. Do you see what I mean.
I do believe Jodie is an honest, sincere and spiritual person.
This is a totally different perspective from WM's, which prompted me to put it on. -
운영자
2010.04.02 14:37
Doc, I didn't mention any about Jodie's faith or about the encounter with the whale.
I mentioned about the charity solicitation in general.But now you said it,
what I can't help thinking about this episode is that, if she truly felt like her God was involved in this,
she shouldn't be complaining about "Only $60,000" instead of $100,000.
Wasn't $60,000 the holy gift from her God? Should she be thankful for whatever she got?
Her safe passage over the channel and the appearance of the whale were the blessings of her God.
If that's the case, the collection of $60,000 was as much gift from her God as the blessings.
What more does she ask? Is she measuring her God's gift by the dollar amount?
What kind of darn egomaniac faith does she have toward her God?
This kind of selfishness and insult to the religious faith makes me sick.
Does she consider her God as a bank down the street corner?
Amazing faith... Amen... God bless. -
이한중*65
2010.04.02 14:55
Actually 6,000 dollars, not 60,000.
Her goal was 100,000. but she got the pledge of only 6000 before the event so that
she was disappointed. As far as I can tell, she didn't complain.
I did go in her website, the total amount is now reaching 40,000. dollars after what she did.
I'm afraid you are passing the judgement perhaps too fast. -
운영자
2010.04.02 17:52
Sorry about having the figures wrong.
I wonder it will change the argument? -
방준재*70
2010.04.02 19:56
Happy Easter! -
이한중*65
2010.04.03 02:14
Dr. Park,
Thank you very much for your precious comments.Happy Easter to you and your familiy and all our Alumni Families !
| No. | Subject | Date | Author | Last Update | Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notice | How to write your comments onto a webpage [2] | 2016.07.06 | 운영자 | 2016.11.20 | 18193 |
| Notice | How to Upload Pictures in webpages | 2016.07.06 | 운영자 | 2018.10.19 | 32347 |
| Notice | How to use Rich Text Editor [3] | 2016.06.28 | 운영자 | 2018.10.19 | 5924 |
| Notice | How to Write a Webpage | 2016.06.28 | 운영자 | 2020.12.23 | 43839 |
| 8103 | 2010년 3월 28일의 나나이모 길 카페 [4] | 2010.03.27 | 계기식*72 | 2010.03.27 | 8320 |
| 8102 | [LPGA] 서희경 KIA Classic 우승 [6] | 2010.03.28 | 황규정*65 | 2010.03.28 | 8376 |
| 8101 | Important Facts - The Cause of Anger of Seniors? [3] | 2010.03.29 | 이한중*65 | 2010.03.29 | 5607 |
| 8100 | Masterpieces of National Geographic [3] | 2010.03.29 | Rover | 2010.03.29 | 9598 |
| 8099 | ♥ 만성관상동맥 폐쇄증에서 관상동맥확장술이 필요한가? | 2010.03.29 | 이종구*57 | 2010.03.29 | 7875 |
| 8098 | 노르웨이 9-6 (가이랑에르 달스니바) [4] | 2010.03.29 | 계기식*72 | 2010.03.29 | 7881 |
| 8097 | 노르웨이 9-7, 8 (가이랑에르에서 오슬로까지) [5] | 2010.03.30 | 계기식*72 | 2010.03.30 | 7336 |
| 8096 | 현춘자 미술 작품전 [2] | 2010.03.31 | 박치석*공대63 | 2010.03.31 | 9173 |
| 8095 | ♥ 고혈압의 합병증 | 2010.03.31 | 이종구*57 | 2010.03.31 | 6917 |
| 8094 | 천안암 격침에 오늘 새롭게 밝혀진 사실 [4] | 2010.03.31 | 운영자 | 2010.03.31 | 7615 |
| 8093 | 노르웨이 9-9 (오슬로에서 귀국까지) [3] | 2010.03.31 | 계기식*72 | 2010.03.31 | 7727 |
| 8092 | April Fools Day [2] | 2010.04.01 | 황규정*65 | 2010.04.01 | 9361 |
| » | A Remarkable Real Story [7] | 2010.04.02 | 이한중*65 | 2010.04.02 | 7198 |
| 8090 | The Story of A Love - Laura Fygi [5] | 2010.04.02 | 운영자 | 2010.04.02 | 8787 |
| 8089 | Detroit Gourmet Club을 소개합니다 [7] | 2010.04.02 | 이민우*67 | 2010.04.02 | 8571 |
| 8088 | The Fugitive and the Rabbi [6] | 2010.04.03 | 이한중*65 | 2010.04.03 | 6830 |
| 8087 | Anthony Kim Wins Shell Houston Open [6] | 2010.04.04 | 운영자 | 2010.04.04 | 7447 |
| 8086 | A Taste of California Earthquake [6] | 2010.04.04 | 운영자 | 2010.04.04 | 7157 |
| 8085 | ♥ 관상동맥확장술(PCI)과 우회로수술(CABG)이후의 약물치료 | 2010.04.05 | 이종구*57 | 2010.04.05 | 8075 |
| 8084 | 772함 수병(水兵)은 귀환(歸還)하라 [11] | 2010.04.06 | 황규정*65 | 2010.04.06 | 7487 |
좀 Negative한 comment를 쓸려하는데, 이것은 일반적 좀 Philosopical한 관점에서 본 견해이며,
바로 이 article의 Nelson에 대한것이 아니기에 (한가지 예로 썼지만) 오해 없기를 바랍니다.
본인의 comment는 대개 이런 방향에서 쓰는것이지만, 흔히 저자들이 오해하고 upset하는거 같어서
서론에 부칩니다. 또 Counter opinion은 반드시 해로운게 아니겠죠. 공자, 맹자의 충효사상에
물들은 우리이기에 반대 의견이 맘에 거실린다는 사실은 인정합니다.
Nelson의 거사는 훌륭한것입니다. 이 사람의 주 목적은 "Fighting against Cancer"에 대한 crusade
로 일단은 볼수있겠군요. 그러나....
한가지 신맛나는것은 "돈"이 "Only $60,000 밖에는" 걷히지 않었다는 얘기 입니다.
결국은 모든 일이 궁국적으로 "돈"을 위한것으로 시작된것이 아닌가 생각되지요.
가령 $100,000 이 걷혀져서 기증되었다하더래도, 과연 그돈이 어떻게 쓰여질가는 큰 의문입니다.
대개의 경우, 결국은 Charity 운영자들의 비싼 요정비와 호텔비에 쓰여지고 말것이 아닌가 합니다.
말단의 Cancer환자들에게 과연 얼마나 갈가?
본인의 일생 의사개업에서 이런 National charity 로 걷혀진 돈이 한번도 본인 환자에게 오는것을
본 일이 없지요. 결국은 그 윗층에서 모두 사라진것이 아닐가 생각하지요.
결국 걷히는 돈은 쓸데없는데서 없어지는데도 불구하고, 성공과 실패의 여부가 걷혀진 돈의 양으로
판정되는 우리 사회의 저울을 보기에 안타가운것입니다.
Nelson의 공로는 돈이 일전한푼 걷혀지지 않었어도 "성공적"인 것입니다 !!
Nelson자신이나 그것을 보는 사람들도 그렇게 보아야 됩니다.
그런 의미에서, 그냥 돈은 전혀 걷지 말고, 또는 모금을 목표로 삼지말고,
순수한 "Fighting against Cancer에 대한 crusade" 로 "시작해서 끝냈으면"
한 사람이나 본 사람들에게 더 보람있는 일이였을가 합니다.
결국은 목표한 돈이 걷혀지지 않어서 전부가 하나의 "실망"으로 끝난결과 가 아닌가요?
일에 "돈"자가 들어가면 거의 전부 지저분한 실망으로 끝나게 되는것 같습니다.
Neslson 자신이 돈이 적게 들어왔다는 얘기를 한것보다는, 이 기사를 쓴 Press 기자가
인공적으로 만들어 쓴 사실일수도 있다는것도 고려해야되겠지요.
따라서 사실은 Nelson은 본인 comment의 대상이 아닙니다.