Adventure

In my early teens, my parents and I would summer at our cabin on Leech Lake. The first boat we owned was a 12 foot fiberglass vessel with a 20 horse power West Bend motor. It flew on still water with only one person in it, which was usually me. At least it felt like it flew.

One day my father and I took the boat to town, a 30 minute boat ride on the best of days. As we turned the corner into Walker Bay, we were faced with high winds and waves that, as we made our way, had to be 5 or 6 feet high.

I was driving, and I thought my father would take my place once we hit those rough waters. When he didn’t, I figured he would tell me to turn back. He didn’t do that either.

I slowed the motor to a crawl, leaving just enough speed to climb each wave and then go crashing down into the crest of the next. Water flew every which direction and before long we were soaking wet.

Up until that journey, boating had been nothing more than fun for me. I loved the speed of it and how I could turn on a dime and head in the opposite direction on a whim. But in those waters, I felt two emotions simultaneously: fear and joy.

The fear is understandable. The boat would capsize if I steered it incorrectly. Lifesavers would not have saved us from crashing onto the rocky shore. The joy is harder to explain. I think I felt the joy of my father’s trust, but that was only part of it. I felt like I was the captain of my first risky adventure and, as much as I was afraid, it was a joyful experience.

Today, as a father myself, I can understand how he must have felt, just sitting there, while his son led the way for both of us. I used to wonder why he let me do that. But I don’t any more.

 

Reviews

[Alex Ryder]

This is a very good piece of work. I love the imagery, and how you tie everything up so neatly at the end. Any father or son should read this- heck, any person should read this! Congratulations on a job well done!!