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.amigomovil.net
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