We Might Be Nuts

You know how when your kid is born, you love them, but you don’t know them? Quickly they develop personality traits, idiosyncrasies and physical characteristics so that you can not only identify them from a mile away, but so that you can fall so deeply in love with them that you consider the gruesome lengths you would go to protect them. Well, owning a boat is not like that, but Gerty is most definitely becoming a part of the family. We say things like this when sailing, “She’s happiest on a broad reach in 18-22 knots on a smooth sea.” In comparison to other boats, “She’s pleasantly plump, especially around the backside.” When contemplating new purchases,“I think the new pillows will really cheer her up on the inside.” When planning, “She really doesn’t like the confused seas so we should make sure we hit the race with the current.” Eyeing her from a distance we’re smitten, “Look at our girl, she’s look’n good out there in the harbor.” And when we are leaving to dinghy ashore we always say, “good-bye,” with a twinge of sadness at leaving her behind. See? Without even uttering a single word, she is becoming an endearing young thing. Either that, or were just nuts!