Yesterday was awesome. The week has flown by, honestly I could not tell you what has been happening lately it has been more of the hang on and enjoy the ride.
But I have to tell you about yesterday. I got to sail on BRILLIANT. She is a 62 foot schooner! She is amazing. There is a story behind this…I know you knew it was coming…
Lets see, I learned to sail at a Yacht Club. My Grandfather, Grandpa, would go to the lecture series at the seaport. He heard about this sailing camp. I was a shy kid, so he thought it would be cool for me to go to the seaport to learn to sail. Meet new people make new friends. I was nervous, but off i went bags packed and all. I was that awkward teenager. It was painful. I went through the program three summers. Then I got to sail aboard the BRILLIANT. In January, I was signed up to sail on the BRILLIANT. At 15, to go out for 10 days on this classic wooden boat was a dream! I got to go with all my new friends from CONRAD.
My Grandpa got sick, he had cancer. As a kid, it seemed to happen so quickly. He was such a strong man, he was so cool. He was someone I would say i looked up to. He was strong, he knew so much about everything, he would bake tons of cookies at christmas all the grandchildren would come over to decorate them. He was cool! He was the best.
End of the summer came, and my trip on BRILLIANT was coming up. My grandpa was losing weight fast, he was in and out of the hospital. He seemed to be a shell. I really did not want to leave him I knew he was sick, I knew he was dying. Adults would talk, believing kids were not listening but i could here them…
But the trip is something he wanted me to go on. I struggled with going, I came to the house every day before i left showing him all my new school books for the year. Talking with him about the trip. Pleading with him not to let me go. I lost that fight with him. I left him in his hospital bed in his TV room at home. He was comfortable. He was happy i was going.
Off i went, it was a 10 day trip over labor day weekend. It was great! All my friends from camp were there, friends i keep in touch with by letters in the mail. There was no internet, no cell phones, long distance phones cost money then! So it was a good time had by all. Every time we came to port, I would call and check in to see how Grandpa was doing. Everytime i talked with someone, they were upbeat.
Last night aboard, we pull into Newport. I call home at a pay phone. My grandmother answers the phone. There is a tremble in her voice. She tells me he passed away. I knew it was coming.
In hind sight it was the best place for me. It was where he wanted me to be. We raced the next day in the Classic Wooden Boat Regatta. We came in first place in our class. He was watching over us.
This past weekend, I was asked if i wanted to crew on BRILLIANT to bring her home from NY. I had not been on her in 20 years. I had a wonderful time. We sailed, it was sunny, there was wind, it rained, it stormed, and we motored. It was a exciting day to say the least. My Grandpa was watching. He was there with me. I could feel it. I know he would be proud of me. I know he would just love my little boys.
Here are a few photos I took on the trip!
The Gollywobler (name of the sail)
Sunset over Long Island Sound
Me Sailing the BRILLIANT
