A Different Kind of Sunday

It was a Sunday quite a while ago. We had sailed across the sound and spent a beautiful night on the water aboard my husband's dream boat, a gift to himself on a milestone birthday, We awoke the next morning to grey skies, rain and a bleak forecast. We'll just take the train home and come back for the boat, I thought as I rubbed my eyes and sipped my coffee. Before I could speak I felt the rumble of the engine and sensed we were moving. "There's a clear window," he called down to me. "I think we can make it home if we leave right now."

I wasn't happy but off we went. I'm a reluctant sailor on the best of days. The rain and cloud were making me nervous. We headed out of the harbor as the fisherman were coming in. Finally out in the sound the wind wasn't helping our sails and our little engine was chugging along as fast as it could. I looked ahead, keeping my eyes on our destination. The relaxing sail across yesterday, listening to great music and laughing, felt light years away. 

Finally, land in sight, I started to breath again. "Go down below and get the rain gear," he said. What? Why? "Just do it!" I turned around and saw black clouds moving quickly in our direction. By the time I came up with the gear, the few boats I had just seen were gone. "Where did they go?" I called above the sound of the rain now pouring down. "Their engines are faster than mine." Then lightning lit up the sky. "Don't touch anything metal," he said. I looked up at the tall mast attached to the boat and looked at him. Neither one of us spoke. 

Finally the dock in view. We're almost home, I thought. The rain still pouring down, we eased the boat into its slip, tied up the ropes and headed for home. Lock the door, don't answer the phone, we are done for the day. Check one thing off my bucket list but don't ask me to go again. We can almost laugh about that experience now.