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- #81
Oregongirl
Member
I just want to thank everyone for their support and for sending my commentary to others. I had no idea that when I decided to do this that the responses would be so overwhelming.
As I've written previously (although I cannot remember WHERE I wrote it!) I simply sat down with my heart - which was breaking and with great anger and wrote down what I was feeling. I wrote without stopping really, I'd been reading forums and news stories for two days, I knew what I wanted/needed to say. What I published was primarily unedited from it's original content. (Funny how no one that "proofed" the draft caught that I spelled heroes incorrectly!)
Then I took a deep breath and began posting it online. I think after that, I shut down my laptop and went to bed. I was emotionally spent!
I began getting positive feedback from snowmobilers from both countries, coast to coast, almost immediately. There were a dozen or so requests for the pdf version in my email the next morning.
I've since lost count of how many pdf versions I've emailed. Requests to add people as FB friends were coming in every couple of hours or so. I got to the point that if we had a few mutual friends that were from my sledding "community", I would just accept them.
Because each of you have been key to ensuring that this message is distributed, I want to share some of the comments I've received.
"I take my hat of to you. Tears were flowing."
"Great work. Brought tears to my eyes."
"we are all thankful for your message"
"Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are thinking."
"Your words echo the thoughts and feelings of all of us."
"you have put down on paper exactly how if feel and what I believe"
"I just wanted to say you rock"
"you nailed it with this article."
"Amen! Well said."
My biggest concern was how the people who were there that day...the survivors...would respond to my words. And when they started to respond - well they were the most meaningful thanks I could have ever received!
"Thank-you for your understanding, please know how much your words mean to us."
"you've touched my heart in a troubled time."
"I’d like to thank you for writing that very good article."
"thank you for posting those words,because it is very truthful and real."
And of course, there has been some negativity, but out of the 100s of responses they have been limited to TWO. Yes, I said.....I've only received TWO negative responses. WOW!! I am not going to give them any further acknowledgment than that.
The window to have the major media pick up this story I think has probably passed. BUT - I know that it's going to be published by clubs, associations and some magazines in the coming weeks.
I have noticed that some of the mainstream media in CN have begun to soften there stories a bit. I sit with held breath to see what legislative and/or liability rulings this will have for the future of sledding in BC.
It is my hope that, in both countries, we are forever able to exercise free will when it comes to our personal recreation, safety and risk choices. The backcountry needs to remain free from liability suits. IMO.
Anyway - thanks again for stepping up to the plate!! Turns out that I was the voice (who knew!), but you all were the inspiration and the "choir" (so to speak).
Oh - and this level of individual advocacy for snowmobiling needs to continue. Assuming that someone else is protecting your right to ride is a fallacy. It's going to take everyones INVOLVEMENT!! A few individuals cannot do it alone. (that's me wearing my SAWS hat)
As I've written previously (although I cannot remember WHERE I wrote it!) I simply sat down with my heart - which was breaking and with great anger and wrote down what I was feeling. I wrote without stopping really, I'd been reading forums and news stories for two days, I knew what I wanted/needed to say. What I published was primarily unedited from it's original content. (Funny how no one that "proofed" the draft caught that I spelled heroes incorrectly!)
Then I took a deep breath and began posting it online. I think after that, I shut down my laptop and went to bed. I was emotionally spent!
I began getting positive feedback from snowmobilers from both countries, coast to coast, almost immediately. There were a dozen or so requests for the pdf version in my email the next morning.
I've since lost count of how many pdf versions I've emailed. Requests to add people as FB friends were coming in every couple of hours or so. I got to the point that if we had a few mutual friends that were from my sledding "community", I would just accept them. Because each of you have been key to ensuring that this message is distributed, I want to share some of the comments I've received.
"I take my hat of to you. Tears were flowing."
"Great work. Brought tears to my eyes."
"we are all thankful for your message"
"Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are thinking."
"Your words echo the thoughts and feelings of all of us."
"you have put down on paper exactly how if feel and what I believe"
"I just wanted to say you rock"
"you nailed it with this article."
"Amen! Well said."
My biggest concern was how the people who were there that day...the survivors...would respond to my words. And when they started to respond - well they were the most meaningful thanks I could have ever received!
"Thank-you for your understanding, please know how much your words mean to us."
"you've touched my heart in a troubled time."
"I’d like to thank you for writing that very good article."
"thank you for posting those words,because it is very truthful and real."
And of course, there has been some negativity, but out of the 100s of responses they have been limited to TWO. Yes, I said.....I've only received TWO negative responses. WOW!! I am not going to give them any further acknowledgment than that.
The window to have the major media pick up this story I think has probably passed. BUT - I know that it's going to be published by clubs, associations and some magazines in the coming weeks.
I have noticed that some of the mainstream media in CN have begun to soften there stories a bit. I sit with held breath to see what legislative and/or liability rulings this will have for the future of sledding in BC.
It is my hope that, in both countries, we are forever able to exercise free will when it comes to our personal recreation, safety and risk choices. The backcountry needs to remain free from liability suits. IMO.
Anyway - thanks again for stepping up to the plate!! Turns out that I was the voice (who knew!), but you all were the inspiration and the "choir" (so to speak).
Oh - and this level of individual advocacy for snowmobiling needs to continue. Assuming that someone else is protecting your right to ride is a fallacy. It's going to take everyones INVOLVEMENT!! A few individuals cannot do it alone. (that's me wearing my SAWS hat)
