The year I was born my grandfather, dad, and uncle dredged out a little swamp on the edge of the bay and built a small marina. Just up a foothill from the marina was a small house which overlooked both the marina and the bay. This was my home for the first seven years of my life. Most of my baby and childhood pictures are of me on a boat. There were canoes, skiffs, work boats, outboards, cabin cruisers, inboard speedboats, schooners, and sailboats. This might lead one to conclude that I knew something about boats. I didn't. But I thought I did. I thought that I knew everything there was to know about boats.
The year I was seven my uncle bought an old 18' mahagony built Chris Craft speedboat to make new again. Two days later someone called and said, ?I hear you've been looking for an old speedboat. I have an old 18' mahagony Chris Craft sitting on a broken- down trailer in my backyard. If you will move it you can have it.? These became my favorite boats.
Soon both boats looked showroom new. My uncle used the engines from each boat to make one good engine. He took me with him on an exciting road trip to New Orleans to pick up a Grey Marine engine for the other boat. Looking at those boats thrilled me. The ?glub, glub, glub? sound of those inboard engines at idle stirred something deep inside me.
My uncle frequently took me with him when he went out. Sitting on the top of the engine compartment with me between his legs, he taught me to how to run the boat. It was the best year of my life.
One day everyone was absent from the marina except for my grandmother and her lady friends who were playing Canasta. I went down, as I often did, and sat in one of the speedboats. Normally I would sit behind the wheel, say ?glub, glub, glub? and quickly be in a world of my own. This day was different. With no one around there was really no reason why I shouldn't get the key from the shed, crank her up, and let her ?glub, glub, glub? for me. In fact, as long as I had her running there was really no reason why I shouldn't untie her, back her out into the marina, circle around, and then come back. I did that. The next time I circled twice and each time I noticed the short distance through the bulkheaded channel to the bay. The third time I went into the bay, turned around, and came back. The fourth time I powered up as I exited the channel and headed out into the bay. I looked back over my shoulder a couple of times to keep the marina in sight but then, very quickly, it was so far away it really didn't matter. I didn't look back again. It was a glorious day, the sun shone brightly on an oil slick bay, and I was driving the fastest most powerful boat around.
I ran that boat at full speed down the bay and when I passed someone on a wharf I waved as I went by. Over and over I stopped the boat and then went from idle speed to full throttle. Oh, the power! The speed! I cut and carved my way up and down the bay. Mostly I remember bits and pieces of this excursion. But there are two special events etched forever in my mental and emotional memory.
As I flew down the bay I noticed a sailboat and I headed for it. As I approached I did everything I could to look as if I did this every day. As I went by I casually looked over and gave a friendly wave. They waved back and I carved a tight show-off turn and passed by on the other side and we waved again. Somehow this remains a defining moment in my life. At that moment I was transported. I was filled with ecstasy. I felt joy as pure as spring water. Life, as I knew it, would never be the same.
I left the sailboat and began looking for other boats I might circle and impress with my boating skill. Off in the distance I saw the water flash of another boat moving fast. Great! Time to race! As it raced toward me I raced toward it. Suddenly I recognized that boat and my heart went into my throat. Instinctively I slowed down. Then I hit the throttle hard with the intention of running far far away. Almost instantly I changed my mind, throttled back down, and slipped her into neutral. I knew I was caught. Running would only delay the inevitable and would likely make things worse.
In the recess of my mind, so far back as to be only a glimmer, was the small hope that I might be greeted with pride and a recognition of my initiative and success. As I looked up I was quickly disabused of that notion. Both my Dad and Uncle looked huge and menacing. A glance was all I could take. Then I quickly looked away and bowed my head so they wouldn't see me.
When they pulled alongside my uncle climbed into my boat and my dad reached over and plucked me out of it. For that I will be forever grateful. I did not want to be in the boat with my dad but I sure as hell didn't want to be in the boat with my uncle.
My Dad asked if I was alright and then didn't speak to me again on the ride back. I suspect that my Mom, who knew him well, had advised him on this course of action hoping to save my life. When we arrived back at the marina my Mom and Grandmother were there to greet me, make ?Thank God? noises, and assure themselves of my safety. Uncle had decided to stay out for awhile because it was such a beautiful day. My Mom and Dad took me aside. Then the questioning began.
?What made you take your Uncle's boat?? ?I dunno.? What do you mean ?you don't know?? ?I dunno.? ?What were you thinking?? ?I dunno.? ?Is that all you have to say?? ?I dunno.?
I really didn't know. The only thing I knew was that I went down to sit in my uncle's boat and make ?glub, glub, glub? noises. The rest of it just happened. In my view I was not to blame I didn't say this though.
I was told that I was going to have to apologize to my uncle. I suggested that perhaps it would be better if my Mom apologized for me but this was not acceptable. When my uncle returned he went directly to the shop. It was time for me to walk the green mile. When I arrived I gathered what little courage I had and told him I was sorry. He said, ?Mum mm!?but didn't look up. I waited a few minutes to see if he would eat me. When he didn't I said, as I shifted from one foot to the other and scuffed my toes in the dirt, ?I was thinking that ? I mean ? if it would be all right ? the thing is ? what would you ? I mean, now that you know I can drive the boat by myself, I was thinking maybe it would be all right if I --------------? ?NO! Don't you ever touch that boat again without my permission.?
I thought it better, for the moment, not to ask if he meant both boats.
The year I was seven my uncle bought an old 18' mahagony built Chris Craft speedboat to make new again. Two days later someone called and said, ?I hear you've been looking for an old speedboat. I have an old 18' mahagony Chris Craft sitting on a broken- down trailer in my backyard. If you will move it you can have it.? These became my favorite boats.
Soon both boats looked showroom new. My uncle used the engines from each boat to make one good engine. He took me with him on an exciting road trip to New Orleans to pick up a Grey Marine engine for the other boat. Looking at those boats thrilled me. The ?glub, glub, glub? sound of those inboard engines at idle stirred something deep inside me.
My uncle frequently took me with him when he went out. Sitting on the top of the engine compartment with me between his legs, he taught me to how to run the boat. It was the best year of my life.
One day everyone was absent from the marina except for my grandmother and her lady friends who were playing Canasta. I went down, as I often did, and sat in one of the speedboats. Normally I would sit behind the wheel, say ?glub, glub, glub? and quickly be in a world of my own. This day was different. With no one around there was really no reason why I shouldn't get the key from the shed, crank her up, and let her ?glub, glub, glub? for me. In fact, as long as I had her running there was really no reason why I shouldn't untie her, back her out into the marina, circle around, and then come back. I did that. The next time I circled twice and each time I noticed the short distance through the bulkheaded channel to the bay. The third time I went into the bay, turned around, and came back. The fourth time I powered up as I exited the channel and headed out into the bay. I looked back over my shoulder a couple of times to keep the marina in sight but then, very quickly, it was so far away it really didn't matter. I didn't look back again. It was a glorious day, the sun shone brightly on an oil slick bay, and I was driving the fastest most powerful boat around.
I ran that boat at full speed down the bay and when I passed someone on a wharf I waved as I went by. Over and over I stopped the boat and then went from idle speed to full throttle. Oh, the power! The speed! I cut and carved my way up and down the bay. Mostly I remember bits and pieces of this excursion. But there are two special events etched forever in my mental and emotional memory.
As I flew down the bay I noticed a sailboat and I headed for it. As I approached I did everything I could to look as if I did this every day. As I went by I casually looked over and gave a friendly wave. They waved back and I carved a tight show-off turn and passed by on the other side and we waved again. Somehow this remains a defining moment in my life. At that moment I was transported. I was filled with ecstasy. I felt joy as pure as spring water. Life, as I knew it, would never be the same.
I left the sailboat and began looking for other boats I might circle and impress with my boating skill. Off in the distance I saw the water flash of another boat moving fast. Great! Time to race! As it raced toward me I raced toward it. Suddenly I recognized that boat and my heart went into my throat. Instinctively I slowed down. Then I hit the throttle hard with the intention of running far far away. Almost instantly I changed my mind, throttled back down, and slipped her into neutral. I knew I was caught. Running would only delay the inevitable and would likely make things worse.
In the recess of my mind, so far back as to be only a glimmer, was the small hope that I might be greeted with pride and a recognition of my initiative and success. As I looked up I was quickly disabused of that notion. Both my Dad and Uncle looked huge and menacing. A glance was all I could take. Then I quickly looked away and bowed my head so they wouldn't see me.
When they pulled alongside my uncle climbed into my boat and my dad reached over and plucked me out of it. For that I will be forever grateful. I did not want to be in the boat with my dad but I sure as hell didn't want to be in the boat with my uncle.
My Dad asked if I was alright and then didn't speak to me again on the ride back. I suspect that my Mom, who knew him well, had advised him on this course of action hoping to save my life. When we arrived back at the marina my Mom and Grandmother were there to greet me, make ?Thank God? noises, and assure themselves of my safety. Uncle had decided to stay out for awhile because it was such a beautiful day. My Mom and Dad took me aside. Then the questioning began.
?What made you take your Uncle's boat?? ?I dunno.? What do you mean ?you don't know?? ?I dunno.? ?What were you thinking?? ?I dunno.? ?Is that all you have to say?? ?I dunno.?
I really didn't know. The only thing I knew was that I went down to sit in my uncle's boat and make ?glub, glub, glub? noises. The rest of it just happened. In my view I was not to blame I didn't say this though.
I was told that I was going to have to apologize to my uncle. I suggested that perhaps it would be better if my Mom apologized for me but this was not acceptable. When my uncle returned he went directly to the shop. It was time for me to walk the green mile. When I arrived I gathered what little courage I had and told him I was sorry. He said, ?Mum mm!?but didn't look up. I waited a few minutes to see if he would eat me. When he didn't I said, as I shifted from one foot to the other and scuffed my toes in the dirt, ?I was thinking that ? I mean ? if it would be all right ? the thing is ? what would you ? I mean, now that you know I can drive the boat by myself, I was thinking maybe it would be all right if I --------------? ?NO! Don't you ever touch that boat again without my permission.?
I thought it better, for the moment, not to ask if he meant both boats.
