Here we are in Independent Samoa. What a difference. Lovely and clean. We did an overnight from American Samoa and tied up on the main wharf to check in. Some people told us something terrible had happened in the US and ten thousand people were dead. We thought he misspoke but then we learned of the horror. I cried but Jonah got worried when I told him there was a plane crash in NYC - he thought his Grandparents might be hurt. We had to downplay the situation as he is so young. I am in a state of shock. I can't talk about it. It feels so weird. I hear little things and I start to cry again. When I heard about all the missing firemen, for some reason that just broke me. I had a terrible migraine last night, I think I am glad we can't hear the news all the time, it would destroy me. We have to go to a sports bar to watch the news. I think we will go tomorrow to find out some more information. I wish I could help somehow.

"Imagine there's no heaven. Its easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today. Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill and die for and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace." Thank you John Lennon - it makes me remember to dream (not hope - stupid pathetic flaccid hope - hope is the lithium of the human race) but dream and do. Rave off.

Ok. I feel stupid writing about the stuff we have been doing. Jonah had some new pals from a Danish boat - the parents are lovely too. Good bonus for us. We know some of the other boats in the anchorage which is pleasant. We are renting a car on Friday and going for 2 days to tour the island and stay in a hotel. What a change of pace! A little vacation.

We walked around town - its nice and the people are lovely. We went to Aggie Grey's Hotel (a famous landmark) and saw local dancing and singing. It was really lovely. The singing is so sweet. Great drumming. The dancing is much more subdued and modest (no scanty costumes) than Tahitian dancing but more graceful and subtle in a different way. The hands of the dancers are so expressive.