On Oct. 15, I was recovering my little yawl from the Basin in Yarmouth. The mizzen mast and booms were down and stowed, and I pulled the boat out and into the parking lot to lower the mainmast. I did so, and nestled it into its cradle. Three more minutes of work and I would be on my way home. As I turned to do the last task, I tangled and tripped in the rigging. I pitched overboard onto the parking lot. My left arm was severely broken and subsequently required a plate and nine permanent screws and pins to fasten the pieces back together. I heard it break when I hit. It hurt. I didn’t have my phone.

I picked myself up and cradled my arm. I walked over to a group of people recovering their own boat, and sat down on their trailer fender. I borrowed their phone and called my wife. They recognized that I was badly hurt when I passed out, and called 911. I think it was Cumberland rescue who responded.

This note is to express my thanks to all the strangers who were kind to me, and to the ambulance crew who comforted me and eliminated my pain. Thank you all so much. You may have thought it was a natural thing to help someone in such a situation, but as the recipient it seemed like lavish generosity. I’m recovering well, and am back at work.

Thank you again. May you all have a lovely Christmas.

Joel McMullin
Portland