I’ve been thinking a lot about my Dad on this trip. He loved long offshore passages. He would sit facing aft in the cockpit with f his Morgan 38 and stare into the deep blue ocean for hours, dreaming of past and future adventures at sea. When he was in his 80’s, he made several passages with Michelle and me on our Manta catamaran, Double Wide. We would occasionally argue over who was captain, but in the end he would agree to the title “Captain Emeritus”. Of course, I knew there was really only one captain aboard, and I was arguing with him.
We lost Dad in March last year. Not to Covid, but to the normal cycle of life and to a broken heart. He never could adjust to land. He truly lived a charmed life on the sea, with my Mom Jane by his side, but his story didn’t end as he had dreamed it and it made him sad and bitter.
Michelle says I’m just like him and I think she’s right, but I feel lucky for it. I’ve got the sea and I’ve got my co-captain Michelle living the cruising life with me. I hope that when the time comes, I can make peace with the land. I’ll do my best Michelle, I promise.
Myself, Patricia , Donnie and Vicki are blessed to have had you all in our lives while you shared the land with us. Your incredible mom and dad and the both of you will be in our hearts, souls and memories forever. “THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A REASON, THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A SEASON AND THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A LIFETIME”. Thank you both for changing my life. Love you and God bless.
I think of Grandmommy and Grandaddy too. I wish I could have actually sailed with them on long trips. However, I have inherited the sea loving blood and love my cruising life it is so natural for me. Feeling thankful.
The “Dixie” sends our condolences about Jim’s passing, he was a sailor a the way he handled a Helms was awesome.
The Dixie was struck down by the masses after the fall of communism but not after taking down the Bahia, what a fitting end of a glorious Confederate Navy vessel to be pirated away. Greed is a deadly sin when the chariot of God is seen.
Well said Captain.
Agreed Michelle… Captain.
Myself, Patricia , Donnie and Vicki are blessed to have had you all in our lives while you shared the land with us. Your incredible mom and dad and the both of you will be in our hearts, souls and memories forever. “THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A REASON, THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A SEASON AND THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR A LIFETIME”. Thank you both for changing my life. Love you and God bless.
I think of Grandmommy and Grandaddy too. I wish I could have actually sailed with them on long trips. However, I have inherited the sea loving blood and love my cruising life it is so natural for me. Feeling thankful.
The “Dixie” sends our condolences about Jim’s passing, he was a sailor a the way he handled a Helms was awesome.
The Dixie was struck down by the masses after the fall of communism but not after taking down the Bahia, what a fitting end of a glorious Confederate Navy vessel to be pirated away. Greed is a deadly sin when the chariot of God is seen.