Jul 08 2007
Screaming Toddler Cruise 2007
It all started out innocent enough, a sunny day in
As I prepped for launch I was excited by the 10-12 knot northerly breeze and looking forward to a quick jaunt around Alki point. Come launch time the wind had died to occasional 2 knot puffs.
Undaunted, the whole family climbed aboard for a “fun” afternoon sail. Unfortunately my toddler had a different plan. One does not truly understand the commitment of parenting until they have experienced and two hours of being becalmed on a 21 foot sailboat, during the hottest day of the summer, being constantly tossed by the wakes of every yahoo bayliner owner in Seattle, with a insatiable child who tears off on a screaming fit at the drop of a hat. Eventually I fired up the outboard and motored back to the dock muttering of “Never Again,” under my breath.
The evening was saved however by a glorious dinner with my good friends Patrick and Natalie. I have been friends with Patrick since I can remember, and every year I grow older the more precious this bond is to me. On this occasion I was amazed to watch my Son playing with Patrick and think how he and I would rough house with Patrick’s dad. I remember how our parents would have dinner parties and the laughter grew through the night while the adults drank more wine, and the kids ate more candy.
We grilled lime & chipotle flank steak and threw some fresh corn on the cob on the barbeque. We sat on my deck as the sun set and gorged ourselves on the pleasures of food and friendship. Natalie made a fruit tart and we drank a great Kendal Jackson Reserve Merlot from 1998 out of my cellar. I doubt any billionaire at a 5 star restaurant has ever enjoyed an evening more than we did.
Having an adult friend who grew up with you is a precious gift in life, and an evening with great friends serves well to put perspective on trivial nature of a bad afternoon on the water.