Day 53 - Rain and Gratitude
Today was as quiet as expected. The morning weather was nice enough for Kona to enjoy her shore time with Holly. I got an email from Terry on Hogsbreath after I published my log. She said “Was that Bob and Helen on Tango you met? There aren’t many Chesapeake retrievers around named Holly. Wonderful people and Bob is a sailing legend.” Yep, she was right. In truth, I hadn’t seen their boat name and Captain had pocketed their boat card before I wrote my post. I mostly hung out with Helen while ashore. We chatted a little about a lot of things, but mostly just loved on our dogs while Captain and Bob chatted. I totally failed to mention that Bob has completed the single-handed Port Huron to Mac race not only once but 34 times!! So, a legend indeed! I know they talked about autohelm and dodgers and all sorts of things, all while Helen and I just loved on our dogs and talked about the non-technical side of living on sailboats.
The rain came for most of the day. The boat gets so stuffy and stale, but we all managed to keep good moods. We read, we napped, we played Cards Against Humanity. We had Captain’s Burgundy Stew that we had freeze dried for dinner. I checked the weather and it appears that us holding here was a good call. The next many days should be good passage days to get to Beaver Island. Captain isn’t thrilled that it will be light to no wind and/or on the nose so it will be more motor cruising then sailing. But even Bob said “if someone says they only sail in the Great Lakes, they are lying.” The weather isn’t like the ocean with consistent winds, so you do what you have to do, I guess.
I notice the kids are out growing out of their bunks. They are taller than me and I got pretty sad realizing that this very well might be our last summer with them on board for long extended times. Captain and I realize we are in a unique position being already retired with kids still in school and will have to juggle our summers for a few years before we can realize our dream of actually living aboard full time. We for sure have things to work though for next summer but I think we will find something that works for everyone. I feel selfish but at the same time Captain and I have a very real sense of “you only live once.” We are highly aware that every day is a gift. Today is my cousin Alex’s yahrzeit (anniversary of a loved ones death). He died four years ago while we were sailing, very unexpectedly. He was only three months older me. Our entire family misses him greatly as he was friend to all who knew him, funny and a hero. I played Taps in his honor as I have every year on this date for him. Kona and I sat outside on the bow after when everyone else went down below. I admired the sunset and thought of him, thought about life and meditated on what sooths my soul. Kona just stared at me, looking to give love as she can tell I was in deep thought. Dogs are the best. They can read the room and they constantly remind you to live every moment in the moment. Something I have to remind myself often. I can’t know what next summer will look like or the years ahead but I can soak up as much of this summer I have left with the kids and have no regrets. I am so lucky to be able to live this life.
