Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Off to School!

It has been quite awhile since my last blog. Quite a lot has happened since then. I've been back to the East Coast to talk at summer camps, been to boat shows, done more speaking, kept up my flying, sailing, and trying to keep finding exciting things to do.

The east coast was great. I headed over there knowing I would be speaking, speaking to kids, but that was about it. When I showed up there and walked into my first room of kids, it was pretty small, and the kids were pretty young, probably around 5 or 6 up to 10. Now, my talking had improved a lot by then, in fact I was getting pretty good at it, but I guess its somewhat like the ocean, right when you think you've got it figured out, you get thrown into a whole new game, and you realize just how far you still have to go.

Now, if you want to perfect your public speaking skills, just try holding the attention of a room full of chatting squirming 5 year olds for more then 5 minutes! My week there went well, with the help of some awesome guys from the Coast Guard who were traveling around with me to help out. We managed to do a pretty good job entertaining just about every school and camp we went to.

Just the day after i got back I was off to speak at the Ventura City Council meeting. Having just gotten off a speaking trip where I had to explain everything, wave my arms around and ask loads of questions to keep the kids listening, I caught myself a few times explaining things like the equator, doldrums, what is an albatross, and other such things! All in all, overlooking a few of my kiddy explanations, it was one heck of a 15 minute speech, even if i do say so myself :)

So, my next big adventure is starting tomorrow, college. Pretty scary thought, huh? Kinda sad, it feels a little like all of a sudden the next four years or so of my life are planned out, and it's all college. There's not much one can do to get around that. I'm hoping there will be room for some adventures and I suppose I'll have the summers to go off and find new dreams to follow and shake up the world a bit.

For those of you following Laura Dekker, it looks like she's dong great! Congrats to her for making it through the Torres Strait in northern Australia!! Laura, keep up the great work, you're doing amazing, and making me insanely jealous with all those pictures of where you've been! Couldn't help smiling at her excitement at making it through the Torres Strait. It reminded me of the feeling of just accomplished something huge to you, crossing another ocean, rounding Cape Horn, that feeling of being on top of the world, like nothing can stop you. They're the best times, the times you live for. :)

Well, I hope you're all doing well. I'll be back again soon, if i survive my first day back at school that is...
Abby

32 comments:

  1. Have fun at school! Hope you still take time to plan plenty of adventures and keep us updated on it all.

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  2. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the update
    Benny & Lily

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  3. Abby we wish you well as as you begin a new and rewarding challenge in your life a college education is essential to developing the needed skills and tools for the enjoyment an adventure of life ! Study hard and do your best in whatever studies you pursue and you'll receive rewards for years to come !

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  4. Good luck with your studies--I'm sure a bright young woman such as you will do extremely well.

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  5. Love your story about the public speaking Abby, made me giggle. Are you going to Moorpark? I bet they'll try and recruit you to their Speech & Debate Team you're getting so good. ;0) I'm also following Laura and very excited for her. Cheers to you for a good first week Miss Abby!

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  6. Nice to see you are still doing so well. Thanks for the update. I've been following your adventures for awhile now, well .. since you were lost at sea and rescued. Have fun at college !!

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  7. Abby, Hope that you experience a great semester at college!
    Louvregirl
    (My own son, Nate is almost a Junior at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.)
    :-)
    You go girl!!
    What R U majoring in?
    :-)

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  8. Abby:
    GO GIRL GO!!!!!!!!!!

    Don't worry, be happy. Just continue to be Abby and to follow your heart. The plan has worked well so far, at least from where I sit. Others have not agree but it is your life, go for it.

    College is a good ticket to have punched. It is sort of funny, the learned souls among us place great store in that piece of paper but they do not have the common sense to realize that the paper is only one part of the adventure called life. When they cross the great divide, they will belatedly discover that the great sheepskin is worthless. You will have that sheepskin and a million experiences to grow on.

    So, just be Abby, get the ticket punched, and continue to have fun. I have great faith that your great faith will continue to serve you well and that your heart will continue to steer the course of a life time. I look forward to many happy (and sometimes playful) posts in the next four years.

    Have fun, be happy, and be Abby.

    GO GIRL GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

    John R Willis

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  9. have fun in school! you'll meet lots of new friends to go on adventures with! : )

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  10. Abby so wonderful to hear your blog voice! I have missed reading about all the interesting things you do! I am so proud of you and whoa look at you go--WOW--college--congratulations for another impressive accomplishment and another milestone in your life! You have grown so much since the first blog about you trip and it has been a pleasure to read the posts and see you mature into a beautiful inside and out young lady. You have much to offer with you experiences and insights and the groups you have addressed around the country are very lucky to have heard your story and to have met you too. How blessed you are and look at all you have achieved and experienced in your short 17 years much more than most people many years your senior and I might add you have done it all with grace and class. It will be exciting now to read your adventures as a college girl and you know what Abby,--they have college "study abroad" programs in other countries so who knows maybe you can start a college "study at sea" program and whalla you will be right back out there in the middle of your dream! The best to you Abby--enjoy college, always live out your dreams, and most importantly keep making yourself a wonderful fulfilling life!
    Warmly,
    Grandma Lee

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  11. Hi Abby.....College so soon....another new adventure......and I wish you all the best. Keep on trucking girl....and don't forget your fans when you get too involved in studying....Gus

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  12. Thanks Abby.
    God bless you.
    Keep smiling:)
    Love ♥
    Richard

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  13. Good luck. I had the same feeling looking down four years of medical school, five of residency, and maybe a fellowship for good measure. Be sure to have fun along the way.

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  14. Well...your blog announcement of going to college caught me by surprise Abby. BUT I couldn't be happier for you. After the initial nervous shakedown of getting up to speed with college life you are going to have a BLAST! I am already imagining the hat and gown and diploma four years from now. You are going to meet some great new friends for life and write your ticket to future success in life. WAIT A MINUTE...that's not right...YOU ARE GOING TO PARTY...just not continuously for four years...lol.
    Seriously...tomorrow could be the start of the best four years of your life. Proud of you. ♥

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  15. Abby..I forgot to acknowledge your thoughtful tribute to Laura Dekker in today's blog. As you know I have been following Laura's voyage religiously and like you she is a remarkable young lady.

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  16. Well done!
    And good luck with your college, Abby. Thanks for sharing your blogs and have fun with youth who ask you about your adventure :)
    It's good to see that you don't have any rivalry with Laura, I'm sure she'll be happy to be supported by you :)
    Bye bye, Matteo

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  17. Have fun!
    We wish you all the best! :D

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  18. Hi Abby ... blessings to you as you start your college journey! Have fun in your new adventure!! Keep shining brightly!!

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  19. My best wishes for your next venture, College !!!.
    I believe strongly that you will make a difference in College Learning. Your will lead the pupil. Spread your courage to your friends and make a positive change in their life.
    I am a School Teacher , teaching computer science for age 12 to age 18. at Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

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  20. Hello Abby!

    This is real good news! I am sure you will make your College life well worth living. There is plenty to learn and plenty to do also in para-educational activities. So I am not too worried about you spending all of your overflowing energy! :-D
    So it will be a few years learning, doing and making friends for life and then ....You just keep at it! :-D

    Waiting for more good news soon, take care, Be safe, Stay Cool, Be warm! :-D

    PS
    And please Abby ... No stunts!! :-D

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  21. Not to worry, Abby, you'll do great in this new chapter of your life! Work hard and don't forget to enjoy every moment! We, your "blog family", are proud of you!!! ♥

    Blessings always,
    Marie
    WA St.

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  22. Hi Abby, Really happy to hear that you are starting college! I wish you the best. As always we will be logging on to your blog,so send us a note now and then. You go girl!!!!
    Virginia in Miami,Fl

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  23. Have a great, great time in college! Some of the best years of my life! Enjoy!

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  24. Hey Abby,
    Just in case you missed this...Laura Dekker had a response for you in her weblog today from Darwin, Australia. As it was in Dutch here is a google translation of what Laura had to say to YOU...."Abby thank you for your sympathy, I found the Torres Strait quite a highlight and I hope that you have in your life too many highlights will achieve. It's like you said, "you feel like on top off the world .."
    Laura's sails have taken quite a beating and a group is trying to raise money to replace them...good things always happen amongst sailors.
    I hope your first week of college went well.

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  25. It's great that Laura Dekker sends her greetings to you in her latest blog entry.

    You are in a rather unique position to make people aware of all she is going through.

    I just know you are going to inspire your fellow classmates for a love of life and a fire and passion for all you endeavor to do.

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  26. Abby~ Report back to us! School (well-college; at least :-)) might be more fun than you think!
    lg

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  27. Hi Abby,

    I just had to post this right away as I just saw that your brother Zac and your dad Laurence will be in the Amazing Race on CBS starting Sept. 25th.

    I knew your readers would be so interested in this as I am.

    It will be so exciting to watch them race around the world with the other teams. GOOD FOR THEM.

    I'm also very happy for you, Abby, as you begin the next great adventure in YOUR LIFE: COLLEGE.

    Looking forward to hearing about your classes and the wonderful times you will be having.

    God bless you and your family,

    Clare, Spokane, Washington, USA

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  28. Hey. Looks like your dad and brother are on the Amazing Race, one of our favorite shows.

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  29. have a good time at college and remember not to take it to seriously, have fun and live life

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  30. WELL Abby I was reading your blog of aug 23rd you our still the 8th wonder of the world my dreams our and have been the same as yours I know you must have heard It from others but at the age of 58 I'm still one who wants that dream of a Sailboat 42ft to live on and sail where ever my heart wants to take me but my wallet Is a little thin I have to win the lotto I'm glad your going to college I hope you take Marine biology you would make a fine doctor YOU OUR ALSO STILL THE AMELIA EARHARDT OF THE SEVEN SEAS I do hope to write to you again with good news that I got my boat

    mystic_seas92805@yahoo.com
    William Hass
    Anaheim Ca

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  31. Hey.. Abby I like to look at what you make it really interesting.

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