Over the weekend , I relaxed from work had a chance to spend time with my
18 yr old daughter . Ok I trapped her ,[
I asked her if she wanted to go to the Boat and hang out for a bit ]once I threw
off the dock lines , and cleared into the Galveston Ship channel , there was no going back
{hehehehe I still cant believe she fell for it }
With rumble of the old diesel chugging [and smoking away] , she quickly turned down the Ships radio and
turned up the FM radio , but not to
some crazy Houston station playing music without acoustic guitars but she tuned into my
Texas Country station bringing a smile to
my face as the sweet sound of the Zack Brown Band came flowing out of the
Cabin. Smiling she came into the cockpit and brought up several cushions to sit
on and placed them around the cockpit area.
For 10 minutes or so , we experienced a calm easy
silence , the kind that comes from just marveling at the beauty of our island
home when viewed from the water , the
stillness almost placidness of the peacefull waters and the expanse of Gods arms
in the form of clouds stretching across the horizon , just stearing the boat
thru the markers with simple nods to each other reflecting on the many
adventures she , her sisters, her friends and I have shared on these waters .
Finally she spoke to reveal the dangers of a oyster
bed near by ,smiling I adjusted course
into a deeper part of the channel [thinking she remembers running on this bed as a young child looking
for pearls ]
Then she spoke of not missing the marker red 12 and turning slightly to
starboard ,smiling I again made the course adjustments remembering the time she
drifted by there on a floating dock loaded with her friends riding the currents
with no motor thru the ship channel as only children blessed by Angels can do
,get way with and endure.
Glancing by the airport she commented on the
dangers of the shifting sand bars , oyster reefs and false currents near there ,
Again smiling I
adjusted course and thought of her running jet skis thru there and hanging
out on the sandbar during the summer months bbq’ing , water skiing and listening
to the concert sounds coming from MoodyGardens .
Coming about , I handed the wheel over to her and
moved forward to the bow to make some
adjustments on the standing rigging,
After several minutes glancing back I
saw her comfortably sitting on the Captains peak arms stretched across the railing , shoes off , feet and toes
locked on and around the wheel steering
by feel of the waves and wind , head
held high and slightly tilted into the evening breeze…….Completely at ease ,completely self
assured and confident in her own knowledge , ability and course she was
setting.
It was a moment of pride to watch her …to see what
she has become ….and at the same time bittersweet …. with the realization , that
she will be gone in several months of to chart her own course thru Pharmacy school and life , requiring or needing very little direction or
Fatherly intervention.{but secretly
wishing and hoping she will always come back to ask her Pops opinion}
Settling back in the cockpit , our conversation
drifted towards more immediate subjects
such as her sisters , friends , plans for the summer and of course the fatherly question of ….Hey Little
bear , what do you feel your role is within yourself and our family ?
Responding as her eyes constantly scanned the
horizon and then the near closer potential problems to navigation she said “ To become the best
person I am able too ….and to lead
,challenge and protect my sisters …..and
to listen and heed the advice from
you”
Smiling at each other , we watched the sunset set
on the water and I
thought to myself … I am glad the argueing phase of our relationship may be
coming to an end …I am extremely proud of her and her choices in life ..perhaps
she is ready to chart her own course ...If she navigates life as well as she
handles the Lost soul thru these waters ....She will be just fine ...... we will still have a few rocky patches but
the girls and I are like a piece of fudge…. a little nutty….. but on the whole
…full , rich and sweet ….alot like life
which should be savored and devoured , relishing both emotions at the
same time ….......... life is pretty
good with the 3 M’s , on my island and
at www.botcwindsolar.com
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