w rider which means you can seat some people in the front of the boat as well as in the back. We really did have a great time with his boat. it was a used boat, but in great shape. He towed the boat with his car and I supplied the gas for the vacation. I know I got the better part of the deal. He just loved driving the boat and would take his cigarettes and iced tea and spend the day taking the kids water skiing and tubing on the river. Only time he would come back in was when he needed more refreshments. Some times I would go along and ski or just relax in the boat, but I enjoyed sitting in the shade and reading as much as bouncing my insides around in the boat. This past Easter, April 9th, our youngest sons birthday, Gary had a heart attack and died. Only 51 years old. What a shock for everyone. We had already lined up vacation weeks in the end of August and weren't sure what we were going to do. Carol and I waited a month then talked to Sandy, Gary's wife, and we all decided that Gary would want us to head back down to the bay. Sandy had sold the boat in the early part of the summer so we would have to make alternate plans for skiing. In early July I was at school for an in-service meeting with a few members from the staff of Millersville University. At lunch time, Barry W. my department chairman, Joe McC., staff member of MU and myself headed to Frizz and Freeze at the Lancaster Airport for something to eat. You know they have the best Pork Bar-B-Q and fries! As we sat eating our meal I got to talking about my vacation and how I wish Gary would be there with his boat. The kids will miss the boat more than me. Joe McC. looked at me and said, "Take my boat for the two weeks." I just looked at him and said, "You don't know me that well to loan me your boat." He didn't hesitate and said, "I've known "OF" you for years and about your teaching methods you use and I see how particular you are with the upkeep of your classroom. Your many student teachers have passed the word along. I have no qualms about loaning you the boat for your vacation." I put out my hand and thanked him. We went to his house to look at the boat before our trip and on the day we left for the Chesapeake, he followed us in his car, pulling the boat behind. We arrived and he put the boat in the water, spent time with me on the water to show me the controls and said he would be back in two weeks to pick it up. We made arrangements for him to return the day before our vacation was over because it is always hectic cleaning the house and packing to return. I had never driven a boat before and I was frightened the entire time that I would do something to Joe's boat. We didn't use it as much as we usually used Gary's boat, because I was extremely uncomfortable driving it. It did survive our two weeks and Joe came back early on Friday so he could use it for the morning. We had invited him and his two young sons to join us for lunch that Friday so after lunch he towed the boat out of the water and backed it into the driveway at our rental house. He then said it was time now to wash and wax the boat since it was in the dirty bay water. This is a big boat and we have to wash and wax the boat!!! I didn't realize that was part of the deal, but OK. We all pitched in and by supper it was done with the cover on it. And I was REALLY tired. Never again! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Group photo of our families. Carol and I on the left front with Sandy and Gary on the right. Kids in the back. Story in memory of Gary H.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The "Wash and Wax Free Rental" Story
It was an ordinary day. We are headed to the Chesapeake Bay again for vacation. This year will be really different, because one of my best friends is not coming this year. Gary H. died this year. Gary's family and my family have been sharing vacations for many years. We both go to St. James Church, we live a block apart and our children are all about the same age. We have some fantastic vacations along the Elk and Sassafras Rivers. After the first year we went together, Gary got the idea that we would have a much better time if we had a boat. So, he bought a boat. It was a bow rider which means you can seat some people in the front of the boat as well as in the back. We really did have a great time with his boat. it was a used boat, but in great shape. He towed the boat with his car and I supplied the gas for the vacation. I know I got the better part of the deal. He just loved driving the boat and would take his cigarettes and iced tea and spend the day taking the kids water skiing and tubing on the river. Only time he would come back in was when he needed more refreshments. Some times I would go along and ski or just relax in the boat, but I enjoyed sitting in the shade and reading as much as bouncing my insides around in the boat. This past Easter, April 9th, our youngest sons birthday, Gary had a heart attack and died. Only 51 years old. What a shock for everyone. We had already lined up vacation weeks in the end of August and weren't sure what we were going to do. Carol and I waited a month then talked to Sandy, Gary's wife, and we all decided that Gary would want us to head back down to the bay. Sandy had sold the boat in the early part of the summer so we would have to make alternate plans for skiing. In early July I was at school for an in-service meeting with a few members from the staff of Millersville University. At lunch time, Barry W. my department chairman, Joe McC., staff member of MU and myself headed to Frizz and Freeze at the Lancaster Airport for something to eat. You know they have the best Pork Bar-B-Q and fries! As we sat eating our meal I got to talking about my vacation and how I wish Gary would be there with his boat. The kids will miss the boat more than me. Joe McC. looked at me and said, "Take my boat for the two weeks." I just looked at him and said, "You don't know me that well to loan me your boat." He didn't hesitate and said, "I've known "OF" you for years and about your teaching methods you use and I see how particular you are with the upkeep of your classroom. Your many student teachers have passed the word along. I have no qualms about loaning you the boat for your vacation." I put out my hand and thanked him. We went to his house to look at the boat before our trip and on the day we left for the Chesapeake, he followed us in his car, pulling the boat behind. We arrived and he put the boat in the water, spent time with me on the water to show me the controls and said he would be back in two weeks to pick it up. We made arrangements for him to return the day before our vacation was over because it is always hectic cleaning the house and packing to return. I had never driven a boat before and I was frightened the entire time that I would do something to Joe's boat. We didn't use it as much as we usually used Gary's boat, because I was extremely uncomfortable driving it. It did survive our two weeks and Joe came back early on Friday so he could use it for the morning. We had invited him and his two young sons to join us for lunch that Friday so after lunch he towed the boat out of the water and backed it into the driveway at our rental house. He then said it was time now to wash and wax the boat since it was in the dirty bay water. This is a big boat and we have to wash and wax the boat!!! I didn't realize that was part of the deal, but OK. We all pitched in and by supper it was done with the cover on it. And I was REALLY tired. Never again! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Group photo of our families. Carol and I on the left front with Sandy and Gary on the right. Kids in the back. Story in memory of Gary H.
w rider which means you can seat some people in the front of the boat as well as in the back. We really did have a great time with his boat. it was a used boat, but in great shape. He towed the boat with his car and I supplied the gas for the vacation. I know I got the better part of the deal. He just loved driving the boat and would take his cigarettes and iced tea and spend the day taking the kids water skiing and tubing on the river. Only time he would come back in was when he needed more refreshments. Some times I would go along and ski or just relax in the boat, but I enjoyed sitting in the shade and reading as much as bouncing my insides around in the boat. This past Easter, April 9th, our youngest sons birthday, Gary had a heart attack and died. Only 51 years old. What a shock for everyone. We had already lined up vacation weeks in the end of August and weren't sure what we were going to do. Carol and I waited a month then talked to Sandy, Gary's wife, and we all decided that Gary would want us to head back down to the bay. Sandy had sold the boat in the early part of the summer so we would have to make alternate plans for skiing. In early July I was at school for an in-service meeting with a few members from the staff of Millersville University. At lunch time, Barry W. my department chairman, Joe McC., staff member of MU and myself headed to Frizz and Freeze at the Lancaster Airport for something to eat. You know they have the best Pork Bar-B-Q and fries! As we sat eating our meal I got to talking about my vacation and how I wish Gary would be there with his boat. The kids will miss the boat more than me. Joe McC. looked at me and said, "Take my boat for the two weeks." I just looked at him and said, "You don't know me that well to loan me your boat." He didn't hesitate and said, "I've known "OF" you for years and about your teaching methods you use and I see how particular you are with the upkeep of your classroom. Your many student teachers have passed the word along. I have no qualms about loaning you the boat for your vacation." I put out my hand and thanked him. We went to his house to look at the boat before our trip and on the day we left for the Chesapeake, he followed us in his car, pulling the boat behind. We arrived and he put the boat in the water, spent time with me on the water to show me the controls and said he would be back in two weeks to pick it up. We made arrangements for him to return the day before our vacation was over because it is always hectic cleaning the house and packing to return. I had never driven a boat before and I was frightened the entire time that I would do something to Joe's boat. We didn't use it as much as we usually used Gary's boat, because I was extremely uncomfortable driving it. It did survive our two weeks and Joe came back early on Friday so he could use it for the morning. We had invited him and his two young sons to join us for lunch that Friday so after lunch he towed the boat out of the water and backed it into the driveway at our rental house. He then said it was time now to wash and wax the boat since it was in the dirty bay water. This is a big boat and we have to wash and wax the boat!!! I didn't realize that was part of the deal, but OK. We all pitched in and by supper it was done with the cover on it. And I was REALLY tired. Never again! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Group photo of our families. Carol and I on the left front with Sandy and Gary on the right. Kids in the back. Story in memory of Gary H.
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