Relief, not grief
The forestay, stretched tight from mast to deck, flashed across the starry night sky as Robin bucked over the modest waves, a fiddler’s bow searching for notes in the heavens.
It found the big dipper, standing up on its scoop, its handle arcing high and west.
The dipper, an old friend from summer childhood nights, idled on my back, gazing, wondering, fascinated, troubled by the eternal vastness up there. I steered by the dipper erratically.
Monica in her turns, steered precisely, the superior helmsperson.
Together, we steered as the engine ran, constant as the celestial order. There is no grief aboard Robin, only relief — and a need for good seamanship for another 184 miles.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:56 am
…..the forestay….a fiddler’s bow searching for notes in the heavens…..Doug, this is absolutely incredible writing! Fill your head with all the wondrous ideas, words and thoughts that come to you “out there”, grab all you can and guard them fiercely. The skies, the heavens, the seas, the storms, the calms, the fears and the triumphs….you’ve lived a lifetime in two and a half weeks.
Don’t stop now…your followers are hungry for more.
Looking forward to seeing you and Monica in Newport!
Peggy
June 24th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I’m glad to hear that you are relieved and not grieved. Yes, I’m sure we are all disappointed that we didn’t finish, but we wouldn’t want your next blog to come from Davy Jones locker just so we could finish a race. It was a wild ride and we all enjoyed it, and thank you for allowing us to ride along, but when the three of you are getting the @#$% kicked out of you it just isn’t fun anymore for some reason. You made the right decision. Now come home with your head held high that you made such a valiant effort and had such a wonderful first leg. We are all proud of you and happy that you lived to tell such a wonderful tale.
And to Peggy, I don’t know you, but you could be a writer yourself! (Maybe you are?)
June 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Doug and Monica,
We all respect your decsion. Thanks for bringing us along. It was a great ride!
Look forward to many more..
/Sail on !
john
June 24th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Words cannot express how proud we all are of you. You made the right decision. Since I am not the dare devil maybe my offspring will inherit the thirst for adventure from you two. Watching you has been so much fun not to mention addicting. We cannot wait to see you. We love you!