JOYFUL PIECE #61
The sirens sang to me...
Image by Paul Kowalow, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. ‡
There was just enough sand for the hotel to claim a beach and rent out beach paraphernalia, including the sunfish sailboat on which I set out on that partly cloudy day to the thrill of freshening winds.
I was probably 200 yards from shore when a squall moved in. After all, there was a hurricane watch. The other boats in the area were significantly larger than the bottle cap I was in. But freshening winds are sailor’s candy. The water got a bit choppy, and white caps appeared in the distance. I enjoyed fully checking out the sunfish performance specifications. At times closed hauled, with the water just below the gunnels on a beam reach. At other times running before the wind. Tacking to port and starboard, capsizing was not in my plan, and it never happened. I was now a bit further out than I had anticipated and close to navy vessels heading to safe harbor. I could faintly see the frantic arm-waving from the boat rental guy. So, I headed to land, to my family’s relief, as they thought they would never see me again. I had been selfish in not considering my worried family while having fun, and on landing faced the music for my lack of consideration.
Later that evening, the winds were near gale force. The hotel was built on a protruding reef and breakers were striking the exposed, weathered rocks. How could I pass up the experience of that wind in my face? I announced to my family my intentions to go down to the rocks. The more prudent members of my family passed on the chance to accompany me. But my youngest daughter, six or seven years old at the time, volunteered to accompany her crazy dad. We made our way to the rocks. The breakers, driven by the wind and dashing on the rocks, were spraying us. I had my camera and was able to record the thrill of the experience. That was many years ago, and I have not found the photo I took of my daughter’s face with that wonderful look of awe and delight as the spray drenched us.
I am a fool for experiencing nature in action; I enJOY those moments. Those experiences connect me, I think, to the ground of our being.
EnJOY life.
As you have stated JOY is everywhere. Solid article as always.
Nothing more invigorating but sometimes also terrifying as sailing on a stiff breeze. You're a better sailor than I.