One summer, a long time ago...

I recently dug up an old photograph and my younger brother and I racked our brains to try to remember who was who. This group shot shows me and my Boy Scout troop setting off on a canoe trip in Maine.

c. 1976

Labor Day Weekend in Chestertown, Maryland

This past weekend was rather gloomy and sticky in Chestertown, Maryland but the town was "hopping." There were a lot of activities planned - namely the reenactment of the War of 1812: Battle of Caulk's Field! Yeah... Woo-hee! :) I was there alone this weekend - as the parents were and are on Lake Michigan.

The "Pride of Baltimore II" was in Chestertown, Maryland to be part of the "goings on."

It was a "privateer" circa the War of 1812. This ship has been a hard luck case. On May 14, 1986, returning from the Caribbean, a microburst squall, 250 miles north of Puerto Rico struck the Pride. Winds of 80 knots hit the vessel, capsizing and sinking her. Her captain and three crew were lost; the remaining eight crewmembers floated in a partially inflated life-raft for four days and seven hours with little food or water until the Norwegian tanker Toro came upon them and rescued them.

The ship in the photograph is the second "Pride." On September 5, 2005, the "Pride of Baltimore II" suffered a complete dismasting while sailing in a squall in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France. The ship returned to port under motor power for repairs.

There were "public sailings" on the ship and it sailed past the houseboat several times but I didn't go on any of them.

A view of the mast and rigging.

The town was festooned with 15 star flags from 1812. Note the stars.

In Fountain Park, I found a crafter's display of carved wooden fishes. This is a "Dolphin" or "Mahi Mahi." I didn't bring this home. I wouldn't know where to put it.

Motoring past the wharf is the Anne D., an Echo Hill Outdoor School buy boat.

I took a boat ride in my dad's boat with a fellow "Wharf Rat" to see the Pride of Baltimore II from the water. The Schooner Sultana is in the distance on the right. It is about half the size of the Pride.

Of course, it wasn't all boat riding and sightseeing! I took a couple long walks up the hill from the wharf and visited with my friend Huckleberry. He's not been around for several weeks and I was beginning to worry about him. We enjoyed a pleasant belly and ear-rubbing (for him) reunion.

The sky that evening made me think of several friends - and since I was at the wharf alone - I kind of got lonesome.

The next day I went into town, mostly just to see some people, and caught this young woman tossing some coins into the fountain at the park. The family had a large dog that they tried to have pose in front of the fountain for photographs, but he wasn't having any of that! They finally got a "sort of good one" when someone else took a snap with the whole family at the fountain (see Flickr if you want)

My car turned 150,000 miles on the way back to the houseboat. It is getting old.

While I was at the wharf, the one-legged lady sent me a cellphone photo of Barley - and labeled it, "My Copilot." He's so cute. :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!

What do you get a special person that has everything?

Here she is sitting on a boat reading the history of one of the lighthouses near Baltimore, Maryland. I think she would actually like an old lighthouse - but that isn't too likely to happen! Perhaps she might enjoy a weekend stay at one - preferably one that is not haunted.

So what do you get her? Well, the case of my Mom, you get her a wire reel.

You take it down the shore and put it on the porch. And then, of course, you paint it and forget to take a photo of it!

In any event, my mom was surprised beyond words. She could only stammer, "You! why... why... you!!!! I.. You!!! oh!!!"

I'll get a photo of it painted next time I get down there - I usually don't go down their in the summer - the crowds and I don't get along - so when the fast approaching end of summer arrives, I'll be heading down to enjoy the much more peaceful, hopefully deserted beach and take another photo.

An old photo of the house down the shore showing where her new "porch table" is sitting - by the way, that is a Peugeot station wagon. My mom loved that car!

Heartache - Friends that Hurt (Part 2)

I can not write words that express what a dear friend, one that I have admired and respected since the day I first found her blog. She suffers from pain that cripples her and makes her largely a "shut-in" but you would hardly ever know it - she is cheerful, optimistic, honest, courageous, talented beyond words both with her hands and with story-telling. In short she is just a plain and simple "good" human being that looks and lives outside of herself and sincerely wishes the best for everyone she encounters.

She is very reluctant to ask others for anything - let alone something as simple as a kind thought and a gentle word. I deeply admire her.

I read her recent blog entry with dismay. I am sure it pained her to ask her friends for some kind thoughts and prayer. She valiantly strives to be independent and a burden to no one. And she is so. Despite it all.

I hope the power of prayer - can bring some sunshine into her world.