Video games, play dates, excessive homework--seems these days there are just so many things better to do than go sailing. And even in the off chance that there really was nothing else to do, for the non-sailors out there, what's the attraction? How can sitting around on a bobbing hunk of plastic (or whatever) moving no faster than most of us can jog actually be any fun? Man, does that sound lame. Maybe I'll just sit here and do nothing instead.OK, those of you with kids know where I'm going with this.
- "Hey, kids, want to go sailing today?"
- "Ummm, well, umm . . . not really, Dad."
- "Well, what if we go get some nice sandwiches and eat them on the boat. After that we can walk around the marina to the playground."
- "OK, maybe that would be fun."
So what of my family? Did the lunch and park bribe work. Of course it did, and once aboard for lunch it made perfect sense to slip the dock lines and go for just a little sail, right? Yeah, there was a little grumping, but in the end all enjoyed themselves. Would they do it again when given the choice between video games on the couch and sailing on the bay? Maybe we're not quite there, yet.
At dinner the next night, I pushed the topic.
- "So, how did you like sailing yesterday?"
- "It was OK."
- "What would you think if I decided to sell the boat?"
- "NO, don't do that. WE LIKE SAILING!"
3 comments:
So you want to know what your siblings thought about sailing. Well, I recall BARFING OVER THE SIDE FOR FIVE WHOLE DAYS on our trip to Cabo when I was just 12 years old! I recall Mum telling me (perhaps not then but sometime while I was living at home and was forced to go sailing with the family) that my friends would be happy to go sailing and that I was a very lucky little girl to have the opportunity. Hate to admit it today, but she was right, now that I'm nearly 50 freak'n years old and thinking it would be nice to "go for a sail." I am reminded of our family trip down the Delta where I had my first crush on a boy in the neighboring boat. We floated down the Delta for hours on our "floaties," which was a fun toy in the early '70s! I also remember swimming to shore in Mexico (just after JAWS came out) and David & my older bro, Michael, hummed the theme song behind me...ARGH! Such fond memories. Oh, and the time we tried to leave the beach in White's Cove on Catalina Island and the waves filled the dinghy and Dad got really mad. I was laughing uncontrollably and thought "this is really fun"! Actually, my idea of sailing these days is sipping on wine and enjoying the sunshine in the cockpit while someone else mans the tiller...and the sails...and the winches...and the ropes...and the wind. Need I say more? All of which, my bro handles beautifully! So, when I see my brother, David, and his family's smiling faces on his big beautiful sailboat, I think how wonderful it is that they are playing together as a family instead of playing nintendo on the couch, and I'm reminded of all my fond memories that I wouldn't trade anything for today. SAIL ON, SAIL ON!
Now that you mention it, I recall that I was the one who had to go down in the cabin to get the paper towel so that you could wipe up after all that barfing.
Thanks for recounting all the memories, good and bad. I don't remember the uncontrolled laughing episode. I bet that was hilarious--maybe not for Dad. There was usually quite a crowd on hand to watch the beaching antics when the surf was up at White's!
Dave: I basically run into the same situation with my daughters. The older one now just stays home by herself unless she can bring a friend and then only once in a while. The younger one is a little more open to it, although she brings the ipod and dvd player and also a friend whenever she can. Whatever it takes!
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