Breaking with tradition, I am writing tonight following a boat ride, actually two boat rides. There was no swim for me today, but Rocky took care of two swims for me —one planned, the other swim not so much…
First, there was this.
My first red jellyfish all summer.
I picked the right day to meet this massive alien water orb with tentacles 10-15 feet long from the safety of an aluminum boat, with my brave son and dog at my dry side. Emphasis on “dry” here.
Today I showed Anders how to get an outboard onto the transom of an aluminum boat just seaworthy enough to handle it’s 5-horsepower. I am still giddy hours later recounting this tale, as launching this old boat of my dad’s with my sister’s engine in the company of my son was just about the pinnacle of summer satisfaction and proof to myself that, yes, I can handle a boat by myself, thank you.
Our salty adventure today included the following:
1. Quality time with a crow bar ripping off the inner board—too wide for the engine to attach onto
2. Additional quality time with a chisel hacking a plastic tube out of the oar lock so we could use said oars as needed
3. A very spontaneous and unplanned man-over board drill when my very special Mariner’s cap—gifted to a Josh by my paternal grandma years ago —flew off my head just outside the bay
4. A mind blowing sighting of what I am sure was one of the most beautiful giant red jellyfish that ever was—made even more beautiful in every possible way because I was not in the water swimming into its one thousand and twenty two stinging tentacles
5. A speedy whoop holler of a ride through just choppy enough water, with just the right amount of spray, the water aglow with red tide and seaweed sparkles with mountains in the distance, and my face practically cracking in two with delight taking two of my boys—one furry and one not-so-furry— on a happy jaunt across waters that I roamed long ago with my dad and sister. The feeling, the spray, the memories of supreme delight flying along with the engine all a hum below a clear sky of blue—it was all there again today.
I told Anders that for me, being on or in the salt water is summer at its purest. There is nothing better.
Our adventure concluded with a hysterical moment when Rocky leapt out of the boat onto our neighbors small floating dock, only to then immediately leap off the dock on the other side onto a gigantic patch of seaweed that strongly resembled a muddy lawn. Well, it was about four feet deep so our dog quickly went under, spluttered and used his mad dog swim skills to make a beeline for shore, with speedy direction and orienteering assistance from Anders.
When Josh got home a bit later, I was ready for another ride. With a gentle coaxing after his long day, he accepted the invitation. I steered the boat. The waves were grand. The engine hummed.
I smiled the whole way.
Mary Swims 