Peace

So there I was...snowshoeing through the forest yesterday morning following the tracks of a small herd of deer up a steep incline.  Halfway up the hill the melted indentations in the snow let me know that they bedded down here where they had protection from the wind and predators.  The quiet that the snow and location offered me was a reassuring reminder that in a world filled with all manners of stress inducing situations that are laid in our path, peace can still be found.  It's almost Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus.  The angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields to announce this birth and concluded with the words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."  Peace is important, first between us and God, then between us and others.  Sometimes, between me and myself.  I pray the peace of God will touch you this season and it might feel like snowshoeing through a quiet snow enveloped forest.  Merry Christmas.

Bad Hobie Cat

So there I was...watching from the porch of my brother's cottage as my Hobie Cat catamaran sailboat took off sailing across the lake without a person onboard.  It happened many years ago when I trailered the boat to the Berkshires to have some fun with family on this beautiful and often times windy lake.  After a bit of sailing, I tied the boat to a very heavy chunk of stainless steel used as a mooring just offshore in front of the cottage.  I left the sails up, but all of the lines loose, so the boat would point into the wind floating docile until my return from lunch.  Then the fast moving thunderstorm came over the western mountains that rim the lake.  It came on so quickly and with such ferocity, accompanied by bolts of lightning, that I couldn't get to the boat to drop the sails.  As the Hobie whipped around with the strong winds, the loose lines snagged around part of the rudder system allowing the sails to fill with air and the boat took off dragging the mooring behind it.  Once the mooring hit deeper water it no longer dragged but just hung on it's line.  Now the boat really took off.  It was heading for the dam at the other side of the lake and I was so relieved when it flipped over, effectively stopping it, about half way to it's destination with the lightning still keeping me pinned down in the cottage.  Shortly after the storm passed multiple people from around the lake, assuming that some fool had sailed out into the storm, got in their boats and sped to the overturned Hobie.  Not seeing anyone, they started diving around the boat looking for a body.  Then we heard the siren of the emergency vehicle responding to the call that there was a possible injury or drowning on a boat that went out in the middle of the storm.  I hustled to get out to this debacle in my brother's ski boat to ease everyones fears.  After eating much crow, we got the Hobie back to the cottage and dropped the sails immediately.  Never underestimate the power of the wind or an ill-behaved Hobie Cat.

Cuttyhunk

So there I was...several years ago cruising into the very protected harbor of Cuttyhunk, a small island off the Massachusetts coast at the western entrance of Buzzards Bay.  Seeing other boats anchored in one section of the harbor I picked an open spot and told Kim to drop the anchor as I backed the boat.  Once the anchor was set a guy on a neighboring boat called over saying it may not be the best idea to have backed our boat beyond the buoy that was floating there.  Asking what the buoy was there for,  he pointed to a sea plane that was coming in for a landing and said that it marked where his water runway was located.  Needless to say, I yelled to Kim to pull the anchor line in, post haste, while I started the engine.  Great amounts of adrenaline were being expended on the part of myself, Kim and probably the pilot.  We just cleared the area as the pontoons touched the water.  Lesson learned.  The island is a quiet little paradise and one of our favorite things to do there is an early morning hike to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, a bed & breakfast/restaurant located high on a hill overlooking Vineyard Sound and the western shores of Martha's Vineyard.  There we've had wonderful breakfasts on the covered front porch with the most spectacular views.  These are the memories that come to mind on cold dark winter days.  Can't wait to sit on that porch, again.  Think I'll stay away from the buoy this time.

Cold And Wet And Perfect

So there I was...pounding through the large waves and torrential rain on Eventide with Kim several years ago heading for Watch Hill, RI.  You know you should probably reevaluate your decision to go when there is absolutely nobody else on the water.  I replayed this scene in my head when my good friend John reminded me of that day while talking on the phone yesterday.  He and his wife Jan had sailed their boat over the day before, in much better conditions, to attend a party on shore then spent the night anchored off Watch Hill.  Thinking that no sane person would come over to meet them as planned in these conditions they were surprised to find us on our way.  After anchoring we donned our foul weather gear and boarded their dingy for the very cold wet trip into town where a breakfast place awaited with just out of the oven popovers, hot drinks and other warm-you-to-the-core edibles.  After thawing out we hiked out to the lighthouse having as much fun as a little kid splashing in a puddle as the rain continued to fall.  Heading back out to the boat Kim made hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for all of us.  Best I ever had.  We took a picture of John and Jan in their dingy as they were preparing to leave our boat that cold rainy day and they looked more than happy to be playing this game with us.  George Washington once wrote, "Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."  We call each other friends.  We've earned it.

Neighbors And Family

So there I was...walking through the backyard the other day working on one of the endless projects I had invented (Kim's words) when one of my neighbors called to me from her backyard.  As we stood talking at the fence another of my property-line neighbors joined us and our conversation about a variety of subjects went on for quite awhile.  Kim and I have had similar encounters with our other neighbors on each side of us. Neighbors down the street will often stop while driving by and chat if they see us out front.  In all the places I've lived the communal hospitality has never equaled what I've found here in Irondequoit.  As I was contemplating our good fortune in where we landed real-estate-wise it led me to think about my genetic neighbors, i.e. family.  Like most families, life has fed us many wonderful times and our fair share of trials and heartache.  We all have to walk that road but how we choose to react to those around us is what makes all the difference.  I have watched siblings tear their histories to shreds over trivial or monetary considerations loosing years of precious memories in the process.  One sided agendas ruling the day instead of humility and wanting the best for those we should love the most.  It is sad and it is commonplace.  I feel blessed to have a family and extended family that loves and cares for each other not just in word but in action.  Through some very difficult times we have stayed close and leaned on each other heavily with an attitude of giving more than we get.  During this Thanksgiving holiday, when we spend time with family more than usual, I hope we can fully appreciate each member and the unique characteristics God has given them.  Neighbors, too.

Change

So there I was...watching the 60 mph wind gusts bend the trees and put the leaves to flight last Friday from the front window of my home.  Walking to the kitchen to look at the backyard something seemed amiss.  A huge tree that sat at the intersection of the backyard corner of four houses, one of them being mine, had fallen into the neighbor's yard directly behind me narrowly missing his garage.  Not knowing for sure who owned the tree we decided whoever's yard it fell into was the owner.  Why I'm telling you this story is because I really loved having that tree there.  It created a great backdrop to our yard and Kim and I just got that corner all cleaned up to where it finally had a nice finished look.  Things in life are rarely perfect and if they are they're not usually for long.  When on the boat this doesn't effect me much as constant change is inevitable out there so I expect it.  On land I count on things being a bit more stable but life is not a stable venue.  We need to stay flexible and ready to bend to the winds of change.  While doing that, we need to grow our roots deep through God, family and friends so we can weather the storms and changes.  Finally, we need to lighten up and laugh more.  There are times for serious introspection and sorrow but after giving it due consideration let the smile return, realizing with change comes growth.  This life really is quite an adventure.

Boat Freedom

So there I was...motoring up to Bluff Island in the Thousand Island chain this past August in the dingy.  I had heard that there was this amazing boutique and curiosity shop in a quaint building on the small island and it did not disappoint.  I knew Kim would love this place so we took the dingy one morning from where Eventide was anchored in the cove of a neighboring island.  What made this business, called Boateak, extra special was that it could only be reached by boat.  When arriving you didn't look for a parking space but rather a place at their dock to tie up.  Same thing was true when Kim and I visited Heart Island, from an earlier blog, a day or two later.  Coming to the dock in our own vessel to tour this wonder was a big part of the experience.  This way of doing things started for me when I was just a young boy growing up on a lake in southern Massachusetts.  My family had a little aluminum boat with a 5 1/2 hp Evinrude motor on it and this was my floating freedom.  The general store on the other side of the lake could be reached by boat and my parents were always sending me there to buy milk or bread.  We had a place called The Nook with it's own dock for pizza pickup and a marina that I was always navigating to because it sold my favorite candy.  Visiting my friends meant jumping in the boat and motoring to their cottages in various locations around the lake.  It was like the feeling a teenager gets when they earn their driver's license and with it the realm of possibilities.  On the lake, this was happening for me at 10 years old.  It is no wonder I feel so free when I'm on the water.  It has been ingrained in me from an early age.  If I could have gone to work everyday by boat I may not have retired.