From my sister, Kathleen.

I received an email today from Kathleen. She shared with me a true story - a thoughtful and inspiring reminder that we are indeed "all in this together"

A few years ago, there was a story on the front page story of the SF Chronicle, about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a web of crab traps and lines.

She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, and a line even tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralon Islands (outside the Golden Gate Bridge) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was in such a state, that the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. A very dangerous proposition - One slap of the tail could kill a man. The rescue team worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers reported that she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each one of the team, one at a time, and nudged them, and pushed them gently around --- she thanked them. Some said it was the most beautiful experience of their lives.

The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you.

And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.

love, Kathleen and Priscilla