Little Darlings

So I've been reading about Abby Sunderland, you know, the 16-year-old that tried to sail around the world by herself, boat broke and she had to be rescued. I originally thought, well, I wouldn't let my kid try it, but more power to her if her parents really believed she could do it. Well, the bill has come due and the family is saying they can't pay it and shouldn't have to. Really? I'm sure the taxpayers of Australia are super happy about that. I understand that sometimes s*!% happens, but if you put yourself out there in that situation against all advice to the contrary, that's your fault. I mean, they told the girl not to sail when she did because it would put her in the Indian Ocean in the winter (yes, it's winter in the southern hemisphere. Some people aren't getting that.) when the weather is roughest. Yet, she did it. It didn't work out, she had to be rescued and now you have to pay. That's the way the world works.

The dad is saying that they're broke and they can't pay the $300K it cost to rescue their kid. The mom said, "What price would you put on a child's life?" Well, apparently it's $300K. "We're not wealthy people." What I would like to know is where did the sailing yacht, yes I said yacht, come from and where did the money come from to fund her trip? I can't imagine it's cheap to stock a boat with supplies for roughly a year. Not only that, but she plans on taking another trip around the world. Why? She's not going to beat the record and it's not like she had a good outcome the first time around. Again, shouldn't you plan for every possible outcome? If my kid was going around the world by herself, I'd be coming up with some serious contingency plans, expecting the worst to happen and being prepared.

My husband seems to think she broke the boat on purpose. I'm starting to agree. Why so cynical, you ask? Well, to be honest, who had heard about this girl and her voyage before she became lost at sea? Her dad has been shopping a reality show since she left and her whole family, all 7 almost 8 kids of them, seem to want to cash in on this notoriety. Is anyone else thinking this is sounding familiar? (Jon & Kate Plus 8, the Duggars, Balloon Boy, and the list goes on) Her brother is planning a motorcycle trip from the top of the world to the bottom (paraphrasing that) since he's already sailed around the world on his own, and she wants to sail around the world again. Again, who's funding this? Plus she's writing a book. Of course she's writing a book. They all write books. I'm sure it will recount her harrowing ordeal in the Indian Ocean and dramatic rescue. I suggest the Australian government get with the U.S. government and freeze their assets until they can pay off the tab. If they want to leave the country, no. Pay the tab first. Kids can't leave either since it's their fault they're in the mess they're in. Harsh? Maybe, but I can't drum up a lot of sympathy for people pulling the "poor me" card when they knew what they were getting into in the first place and didn't plan ahead. You're broke? Maybe you shouldn't be letting your minor kid get themselves into trouble. If they're under eighteen, you're responsible for all their crap, including bills.

One poster suggested requiring a bond if they want to do something like this and I agree. An insurance policy of sorts. You pay for this policy to go around the world, or whatever floats your boat (no pun intended), if you make it back without incident, cool. You're out x-amount of money. If they have to come rescue your ass, it's covered. Why not? You have to have insurance for everything else under the sun, why not this? It may curb these daredevils desire to put themselves, and others, in harms way. Just sayin.

No more "reality" shows, please!!! at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.