A red and white sailboat, moored at its secured buoy, rocks bow to stern. The tour paddleboat leaving the Port of Excelsior just tooted its horn. A man in black sweater, khakis, trilby and white beard checks his dory. It is a beautiful 50–degree day at “my office” in my car at Excelsior Commons in Minnesota. I’ve come today to displace some anxiety. This beautiful setting, of boats and water, is once again working its magic and bringing me to a place where I can both let go of worries and concentrate on what is at hand for me this…
Read MoreHappy Place
“…he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul…” Psalm 23:2-3 My happy place is by the sea. The whys are stated below. 1. Sea music. You don’t need to bring your own music to the beach. The sea has its own sound system. It plays a lullaby and allows you to rest and think. Other days, it’s a constant repertoire of crashing cymbals and thunderous drumrolls. The waves unchink the stress right out of you. Your thoughts are silenced by the concert of the sea. Your soul is hushed by its never repeated notes. 2. Water People.…
Read MoreWater fireworks
This Independence Day will mark the third time we have participated in the annual Dead Lake Fourth of July parade. I prefer to call it water fireworks. And it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s the funnest day. Boats of every kind line up at the beginning of North Bay. For an hour, we cruise along the shore in our pontoon decorated for the day. And prepare ourselves for attack. For dock wars. Dock after dock is lined with children, fingers at the ready on their super soaker squirt guns to drench us. We’re ready too. Stowed aboard are…
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