The "Skiing Rowboat" Story

It was an ordinary day. We were on the Elk River in Maryland for a two week vacation with the Howry family. Number one activity for the two weeks would be water activities with skiing at the top of the list. Gary H. and the boys would set up a slalom course at the beginning of vacation by tying old plastic milk bottles to bricks with rope and dropping them in the water at pre-determined spots on the river. Just like professional water skiing on ESPN. The three of them would be out on the water skiing and driving the boat most of the day with breaks only for lunch, iced tea and gas. I would accompany them to the marina for gas, but the constant pounding of the waves in the boat during the skiing did wonders on me after drinking all that iced tea. Jumping overboard every half hour to water the river took away time the boys could be skiing so they kindly asked me to stay on shore. I really was content to sit in a chair with a good book and take a nap. So the story continues......both boys were very good at skiing the course and would continue trying at various boat speeds. They had their own competition. The rest of the family didn't even try since you had to be really skilled on one ski to complete the course. Another activity was the "Boogie Board" which was a board much like a surfboard that had rubber shoes on it that you could ride by being pulled behind the boat. I had a hard time standing on it on land so I didn't do this either. Catching a wave and flying through the air on this board was a sight to see. Flips in mid-air were not uncommon. We also had a knee board that you would kneel on for the same types of acrobatics. Both boys became very skilled at all activities. Probably the best at skiing was Tad. And........it all started many years before. Tad loved the water and everything that went with being around the water. Since he was the youngest of our three children he didn't always get to go skiing because of the safety factors. That didn't stop him from constantly bugging those on shore that weren't out in the boat. Tied to the dock throughout vacation was an aluminum rowboat. One day Tad got the crazy idea that I should take him skiing with the rowboat. Just he and I. OK, let's give it a try! We found a small ski with two foot holes and a tow rope in the boat house. All gathered on shore to witness this miracle. I climbed in the rowboat and moved it offshore a distance, tied the rope to the back of the boat, threw the line to my wife who was in on this mission and prepared to pull Tad who was standing in the shallow water with his feet in the ski. I told Tad that on the count of three I would start to row as fast as I could, so be ready!! One.........Two.........! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. In memory of my good friend Gary H.