Yep……today’s the day. Fred toodled off with the Arrr!!! Anyone who is driving on the Eisenhower in Chicago….please wave as he goes by. He’s the one towing a 32′ sailboat.
Fred is addicted to water. I don’t know where this came from, since we have lived our lives in a (mostly) land locked state. I always thought he was destined to be a pilot, and I would have been THRILLED to go flying with him. Somewhere he took a 180 degree turn and ended up a sailor instead. I wouldn’t mind it if I didn’t get violently ill every time I get on the boat.
We’ve tried every remedy known to man: Dramamine, Bonine, pressure strips for the wrist, ginger cookies and ginger tablets, ad nauseum (literally!). And nothing works. I suspect part of it has to do with the roughness of the harbor, and part of it is that the risks my free spirited husband takes scare me to death.
Soooo…each summer I become a boat widow. From today, May 17th to October 15th, he will be gone almost every Saturday and Sunday, off sailing Lake Michigan. This year, though, we have claimed two of his very early sailing days. On June 8th he has agreed to accompany me in the Walter Payton 5k Fitness Walk. And May 31st his only daughter is getting married. He asked her if he could wear his boat clothes to the wedding…… She didn’t smile.
During the early and late stages of my widowhood I do all sorts of things out doors. There’s an antique fair I love to visit, and the Gold Coast Art fair is fun. I do a lot of gardening, and try to get in some walking. I make plans to visit friends for lunch or brunch, and I make short trips. But when we get to mid July and August, I hibernate in my home. It’s too HOT to go out!
I’m collecting books for the summer reading session, and looking for cool recipes for meals. You’ll find me here, wondering where everyone else is. Come by and visit, ya hear??