For those of you who have never had the pleasure of meeting Doug in the flesh, I wanted to share with you just what kind of person he is. Doug is an incredibly gentle and kind human being, who laughs easily, and always wants to know how he can be of assistance to the other person. Every time he comes to my home, he separates himself from the group of paddlers in residence, in order to find things in my home that need fixing...and just fixes them. If you saw Doug, you would never be able to guess his age, as he is in incredibly fit and trim. Doug lives a very healthy life-style. Riding his bike to work every day as just part of a regime to maintain a high level of fitness. I guess what I am trying to say is that Doug does not indulge in any bad habits, health-wise, which makes all this torment seem even more unfair. Doug trains his body and mind to prepare for the kind of paddling he loves, and there is nothing reckless about him. Doug has great courage, and strength. Few people really know the degree of suffering he has endured since contracting the flesh eating bacteria. It has truly been relentless. My wish is that Doug not only come through this surgery with flying colors, but that many of the lingering health problems that have plagued him these past years resolve themselves, leaving him free to paddle in the manner that he prefers, one that inspires those of us less skilled to "push to edge" and experience the challenge that is out there waiting on the salt. Jolie San Juan Island proud to call Doug Lloyd her friend *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Jolie, Tuesday, May 4, 2004, 11:58:31 AM, you wrote: > My wish is that Doug not only come through this surgery with flying > colors, but that many of the lingering health problems that have > plagued him these past years resolve themselves, leaving him free to > paddle in the manner that he prefers, one that inspires those of us > less skilled to "push to edge" and experience the challenge that is > out there waiting on the salt. I concur! Thanks Jolie, for sharing your "real life" experience of Doug. I've only encountered him here on the list, through a few private email exchanges, and in reading some of his contributions to "Sea Kayaker" magazine. I've always been impressed with "who he is", and I've enjoyed the inspiration he offers; both in terms of paddling and his approach to life in general...in spite of the terrible hardship he's endured these past several years with regards to his health. If anyone can come through the upcoming surgery with flying colors, it will be Doug...because he appreciates, and shares generously with others, the wonders of a life well lived and relished. All the best wishes for our favorite "gnarly boater dude"! :-) -- Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:37 PDT