Happy Birthday Andrea!

This is a bit later than I had intended since my weekend intervened.  I went skiing, which I know Andrea would appreciate, and then I got some kind of stomach flu,  which anyone who has raced in Hong Kong can appreciate.

Andrea having fun

I came to dragonboat via the False Creek Women’s Team 8 years ago.  That is when I met Andrea Dillon, the team’s coach and in a less informal way, the spirit of the team.  I have learned a lot from Andrea over the years since then, not just about the dragonboat stroke and racing in a big team, but about leadership and compassion.  She really does lead by example.  I feel  privileged to work with her, so I wrote a poem.  (I would like to have recited this at her birthday party, but since I was here in Sweden the blog will have to do!)

To Andrea on her Birthday
A measured approach, grace under fire
Leadership and vision to connect and inspire
Insightful, thoughtful, inclusive and fair
Playful and ready for truth or for dare
Warmth and compassion; compromise-straddler
The undisputed matriarch of dragonboat paddlers
Poet, wordsmith, speechifying whiz
and almost as punny as she thinks she is

Happy Birthday Andrea!