b"After tying up the boat at the dock, Elli was already walking around and wag- harder and more emotionally challenging, andshe dove into the cold water to cut the ginghertail.Laterthatevening,Sally I have the upmost respect for him.linefreefromthepropeller.Ellistood wrote in her blog:Meanwhile I watch Elli and I admireguard on deck. Later, as she sat snuggling I do not want to write about guilt, or her. And I hope that I can be like her whenwith Elli, trying to warm herself under all sadness, or terror; all things I have been feeling faced with catastrophe. Theres a lot that I can-her blankets, she remembered those cas- for the past few days. Instead, I want to share not control and misfortune strikes everyone. Itcading failures her father had cautioned the lesson I am trying to learn from my little can hurt us, make us sad, and set us back. Buther about. It was a mistake, definitely, but dog. That lesson is to be resilient, unyielding in there is never, ever, a reason to give up. Life iseven more so, a learning experience. a desire to live, and, most importantly, to pick too full of wondersfor Elli there are places toShe wrote in her blog that evening, up from wherever life has placed me without be sniffed and belly rubs to be had.There will be many, many more learn- resentment or anger. As for myself I have the ocean, the peo-ing experiences before I reach the crys- Already she has become skilled at navi- ple I love, the sunrises and the sound of waves.tal-clearwatersoftheBahamas.And gatingtheworldwithonelesslimb.And If I can move forward from tragedy withoutprobably some there, as well.although I do admire how quickly dogs can anger or resentment I truly believe that life willItallhappenedinaninstant, recover physically, I am much more amazed at takemethatmuchfurther.Myuncle, Tombarely a month into their journey. the resilience of spirit. Never in my life has Ritch-Smith, told me to pick up from where IThe disasterdidnot takeplaceon the something so terrible happened to me, yet as I am, not to wish I was someplace else. Thosehigh seas or offshore. In a port south ofBoston,SallyandEllihaddisembarkedAthena to go ashore for a walk, as theydideveryeveningwhentheyweredocked. Sally decided not to put a leashon Elli since the road along the harborwasquiet. WhenEllisawsomepeopleacross the road, she raced to greet themand ran into the path of a passing pickuptruck.Suddenly,Sally'sfirstmatewaslying on the street.TheonlythingIcouldthinkofwas getting her to a vet. Somewhere inthe back of my mind, I wondered why Iwasnt crying. The two men in the truck were dev-astated, and drove Sally and Elli to thefirst place they thought would be helpful: (Left): Sally and Elli on Athena in St. Petersburg. (Right): Sadie is one of the dogs that is aanemergencyroomforpeople. The regular at the marina where Athena is docked. Photographs by Jacqui Silla.two men were now in a panic, and wantedto just leave Sally and Elli at the emer- sulked, pouted and criedyou name it, Elli words stuck with me, and Im going to try andgencyroomentrance.Sallymaintained did none of this. live with them in mind.her composure, and convinced them to You can argue that dogs lack the intelli- Sallys dad picked Elli up and drovetakehertotheaddressofthenearest gence to really mourn the loss of a leg, but that her home to Maine to recover on solidanimal hospital she had just located on doesnt matter. The point isnt whether or not ground. She would be without her firsther cellphone.Elli is smart. I know she doesnt understand mateforalmostanentiremonth.SallyOnce I arrived and passed Elli off the limitations. But I do know that she is in was determined not to allow the isolationto the veterinarian, my tears came and pain and finding the world a little more diffi- toovercomeher.WhenElliwasondidnt stop for days after, Sally recalled. cult. Yet she is still very much the same sweet board, Sallys sailing was more cautious.Elli was in a lot of pain and going into dog. Even with 12 staples on her rear, she is She now took advantage of the solitudeshock. The x-rays indicated the damage trying to chase birds and explore everything. to sail more aggressively to make up forwas only to her right hind leg. The bones She is excited to see me. Its almost like noth- losttime.Shespenthernightsreadingwere badly broken. ing has changed for her. Chesapeake by James Michener, Fall ofBack on Athena, Sally received a call As I am writing this, Im reading a story Giants by Ken Follett and other booksfrom the veterinarian. There was nothing in the Portland Press Herald about a young given to her by the kind people she hadthat could be done to save Ellis leg, and man from Old Town who lost his leg in a met in ports.with Sallys permission, they wanted to motorcycle accident. Even after nine surgeries, Theplanwastobereunitedamputate it immediately.he is taking on his rehab with commitment with Elli somewhere in New Jersey, onAfter the surgery, Sally brought Elli and courage. I know thats a different storyoraroundNovember5,Sallys19thback to their boat. Within a few hours, Elli is a dog after all. His recovery will be birthday.www.TheNewBarker.com Spring 2016 THE NEW BARKER 31"