An Ocean Journey -- A Memory

Sometimes I find it fun to recall again, places that my husband George, before his death, had taken me for vacation. When our daughter, Jean, wasn't busy with her horse at the barn, she came along, too. Sometmes, a friend came with her.

George liked to tent, and he liked for us, as a family, to go tenting. Once, he took his elderly father camping with us, for a week-end. Usually, Jean came with us, and brought a friend. One year, we tented at a 1000 island campsite in late Octber On that trip, Jean found a lost cat and, of course, we gave it a new home. Her name became Cleopatra.

George said one day, "I'm going shopping for a little while. I want to buy a canoe for you to use at the camp." When George came back, he drove a boat trailer into our drive, on top of which was a large boat. He said the boat could hold seven or eight people.

He said to me, "Don't worry. Your canoe is coming in next week." As George promised, he bought the canoe a week later. The next weekend we took it to our camp, where our visitors and I truly enjoyed using it in our quiet waters.

George named our new boat, the Jean Ann, for our daughter. Over the years, George took many people for rides in the boat. Every July Fourth, we went in our boat to a nearby town to see the annual firework display.

One day, George said to me, "Let's take the Jean Ann for a real ride, a ride on the Atlantic Ocean. We could go from Cape Cod. There is tenting there, also a marina, and a public dock." Not many days later George and I, with our boat in tow, also, with our tent and food supply packed in, set off for Cape Cod.

We arrived in good time. (That trip was in a year before roads became clogged with traveling folk). During our campng years, I always thought It was just lovely how honest campers were. All of the years we camped, at many different camping grounds, not once was any of our equipment or food supplies disturbed.

The next day at Cape Cod, George said, "We're in luck. The Fair Weather Flag is flying. We'll have a good day ahead." At last, the Jean Ann will have her ride on the ocean!"

It wasn't long until George had our boat launched into the water. The bay was quiet. Soon we moved through the bay, and reached the ocean. The ride continued to be fine. The waves were rolling, but gentle. The sky had some clouds, but there was blue, as well. (The old weather saying my family had, said, "If there is enough blue in the sky to make a dutchman a pair of britches, it won't rain." So, on we went.

In a short time, however, the sky began to change. The waves became higher and the sea became very rough.


George said, "I don't like the look of the sky or the wind. The weather now seems to be changing and may become unsettled soon. I'm going to turn around and go back." The ride back to port, was very rough. and the trip was long.The rolling waves, from the strong wind, made it hard for George to keep the boat's engine in the water and the boat on course. George said, "I think it might be a good idea for you to put on your life jcket." (I'm not a swimmer).

We continued on. With the waves and in the wind, George wrestled to keep the boat moving forward. After a long struggle, George finally reached the bay that led to the port. I could see him relax. In the bay, the water wasn't as rough. . When we reached the boat ramp, we saw that the weather flag had been changed to warn against any boat travel. A storm was almost at hand.
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As our car pulled the boat up the ramp to leave the water. I said, " George, with our boat in that wind and in those wild waves, I was really worried. That wild sea was scary."

George said, I was even more worried than you."
I said, "Why was that?"
He said " I knew something you didn't know. Because of the extra miles the wind had caused us to take, the boat was nearly out of gas!"
marylee manson armour April 19,2007