Daley Ponderings

In the morning, I was telling Jonathan about how six years ago on this day (my 21st birthday - after we were engaged and before we were married) Daddy took me to Moraine State Park and we rented a tandem bicycle.  Jonathan was all excited about riding bikes, but Noah isn't old enough for the trailer  yet, so I said it was unlikely to be the plan.

Jon served me breakfast in bed and soon Lisa arrived and helped Jon prepare a picnic lunch.  Then Jon asked if it was too cold to go sailing!  We thought that with the sun it would be ok, but we brought blankets and extra clothes just in case.

It was soon obvious that we really were going to Moraine State Park.  We had our picnic on the beach first, in lovely sunshine and fall scenery.  Then we found the sailboat launch and while Lisa and Jon set up the Black Rabbit, I talked with a couple who were packing up.  Their boat was wooden, a two-masted design from the 1880s that they had built themselves!  She was a beautiful boat.  The husband was excited to see the boys joining us - they got into sailing after their kids were grown and now they're not really interested.

The wind was perfect (without jib for a comfortable sail.)  Amazingly, Noah did not object to his life jacket.  He looked all around and smiled and talked.  He got fussy when Lisa and I raised the sail a little (he got kind of leaned over), but after nursing he was happy again.  Later he nursed to sleep.  It was so neat that he genuinely enjoyed the sail.

There were several other sailboats on the water, enjoying this late season opportunity.  It was beautiful and fun!  Jonathan dropped a paddle in once, but Jon did a perfect "man overboard" maneuver and Lisa picked it up.  We played I Spy With My Little Eye and talked and Lisa told Jonathan some jokes and we generally had a lovely time.  At 3:00, we turned around and went pretty quickly back, heeling over at a good clip. We made a perfect landing at the dock.

I came home to two birthday cards in the mail and one birthday phone message.  Jon is making me Siamese Chicken Curry with Broccoli and Peanuts at the moment.  What a great birthday!