Birthday on board

One year ago Jack and I took a road trip for my birthday, first stopping at Blennerhasset Island, a destination Jack wanted to visit his whole life. We took the little ferry across the river and rented bikes to circumnavigate the island. From there we drove to Nashville and spent a couple of sweltering hot days with Drew and Ericka. They took us to dinner and made time in their ridiculously busy schedules to show us their new city. Plus, we went to a Steely Dan concert and got aftershow passes to see Jim Beard, the keyboard player, a homey of mine from way back. On the way home we stopped at Mammoth Cave and visited the final resting place of Floyd Collins. It was a great birthday week.

20120821-085732.jpg

20120821-085755.jpg

20120821-085821.jpg

20120821-085837.jpg

20120821-085852.jpg

20120821-085951.jpg

20120821-090035.jpg
What a difference a year makes! We’re still in our extended shakedown on Escape Velocity, getting things sorted out and fixed and replaced, a normal process on any boat. We’re way behind schedule because of waiting for our autopilot ram, and now we’re waiting again for a new carb on the dinghy outboard. So it’s no surprise that despite enjoying every day on EV we were feeling a little shackled.

Strifes to the rescue! Spending a birthday with family is always our first choice so we were touched and delighted that Nancy and Dave drove hours with a car loaded with our spare parts and champagne and coolers full of birthday treats. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate but Dave got to see the boat and Nancy got to see the progress since April and it was great just to be together.

20120821-091801.jpg

20120821-091905.jpg
The next day, as Jack reported, we were visited by Deb and Tim who brought pizza and salad for lunch. We’ll get to see them again before we leave the area since they live in Boston. And schlubs that we are, we forgot to take photos.

I am now 61 years old, an in-between year; not old enough for social security but too old to get rehired in my career. Which is why I’m here, living on a boat with my best friend, with an ever-changing view from the back porch and a sunset every night. I’ve got no complaints.

20120821-092621.jpg

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

3 Responses to Birthday on board

  1. Anita

    You’ll have to make a book of all your “views from the back porch”. They are beautiful!

  2. karen sherer

    Happy
    Birthday Marce…your great spirit is what keeps you so young…so continue and…..many more

  3. Marjorie Preston

    When I looked at this I recalled the lyrics to the song “Two for the Road.” I know Marce knows that movie and must love that melody.

    “If you’re feeling fancy free/
    Come wander through the world with me/
    And any place we chance to be/
    Will be our rendezvous.”

    You’ve become Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. What a wonderful way to live. Godspeed. Marjorie Preston

Leave a Reply to karen shererCancel reply