Saturday, August 8, 2020

Dear Marion,

Paddle boarding seemed like a distant idea that I would occasionally ponder but not propose for myself. One day this past spring, I thought what are you waiting for? If you are not strong enough or balanced enough, so what? You fall in the water and learn how to laugh at yourself again. I know that would be your advice.

Just a few weeks into summer, your granddaughter and I joined a friend's family vacation somewhere between Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland where we spent a morning riding wave runners and paddle boarding. Fortunately, one of us(not me) had tried paddle boarding recently so I only needed to worry about me and my balance or lack thereof.

A teenage employee carefully positioned the board parallel to the dock and patiently gave me a few pointers. I hoisted myself down into a standing position and waited a moment to get my bearings. Your sweet granddaughter gave me the thumbs up and paddled ahead, protectively looking behind every so often. As I moved away from the dock, paddle in hand, something amazing happened. An inner quiet peace consumed my whole being. We were told earlier to turn into the inlets lined with homes and stay away from the main channel as the current was stronger in that area. In this quiet space, the board lightly swam over the surface causing a slight rippling sound and the tiny fish below the surface barely seemed affected by my interference. A blue heron near the bend seemed unfazed by my presence even as I approached the edge of the bank. In this most special moment, I somehow managed to turn abruptly without falling off the board or offending the heron.

When you spend a day in the sun and especially time in the water, there seems to be an incredible craving for a delicious meal. One very simple snack or side we have been enjoying is Sliced Baked Potatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Growing up in our Norwegian-American household, we rarely went a day without some sort of potato. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I realized not every person had such a close tie to the potato. All joking aside, thank you for that relationship with a food source that has the ability to elicit so much comfort in a healthy manor.

Another week or two slipped by and we drove to the Poconos for a weekend. The boys chose to canoe and fish, while we gave paddle boarding another try including some tips from Big Mama as to the best way to navigate the Delaware River. This time we walked into the river from the beach and lay flat paddling a few feet before we stood up and began our journey. Beforehand we both expected to struggle a bit with the launch, but it felt much more natural than expected. Paddling felt different (freshwater) and the view was different, filled with trees and underneath us a clear view of thick plant life, minnows, and some larger fish. We were walking on water and we didn’t even have a phone or camera...it was liberating.

Occasionally, we tried kneeling and cross-legged positions for a different experience. There were large groups of rafters, kayaks, and canoes with people singing and laughing echoing their delight in spending a Saturday on the sunny river. This trip was much longer and it felt like a journey, paddling around each bend wondering if we would run into the boys and careful not to pass the river edge opening where we were supposed to beach the boards. Your granddaughter wished so that we would happen upon the boys. “I want dad to see me”, she said, and in that moment I felt so privileged to be the one to see her in this most incredible place.

It was hot and we finished with a swim. The air on the river felt crisp like mountain air and was a contrast to the ocean air we are so used to from home. It was a good day.

All I could think of was I did it...I can do it...twice!

Talk soon,
Forever Yours

Quote

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Maya Angelou
Civil rights activist, Poet, Award-winning author
1928-2014