Do you remember when, after the Summer Vacation, the first task back at school is to describe what you had been doing during the summer season? Well, the practice stops early on since nobody would volunteer past a certain age to ask what you had actually been doing
For Christmas, New year not much time to get into trouble, but here it is. Just enough.
My son Chauncey, has a house in Charleston, South Carolina. He actually lives in New-York City, but after a long detour for his extended family's future, I hope, he picked me up in Newport, R.I., and we drove off. We had done the trip before, but on the day before Christmas, it was not the easiest way to get on the road. Riding South, having to go around N-Y, Washington D.C and with everything in between, eventually we had to stop in a real flea back Motel by 3 in the morning. Five hours later, back on the road again.
I like Charleston. Usually, for me, a stopover on boat deliveries when the season turns to go South again for the large migrant fleet from the North, and from Newport in particular.
Christmas came. Received presents, but did not give any. My contribution: to feed, cook, and liquor the whole lot for a week and a half. I thought a fair deal for five people.
My daughter Dominique escaped the Holidays by being the chef on Topaz, the majestic J Class boat in St. Marteen and the B.V.I. Altogether the best.
Well, Chauncey worked on the house. Sefton, his half-brother, and I cleaned the yard, cleared all debris; a good thing. But the highlight was about the boat. The delivery from Harbor Spring, Michigan, of the Lone Star 14', an aluminum launch. Built in 1955, with an 18 H-P Johnson outboard of the same age. We managed to spend on safety gear just to be legal 1/4 of the boat's value. Including miscellaneous equipment, fenders, dock lines, etc. West Marine, here we go again. That figures. Anyhow, the launch came. The boat is riveted, and it was a relief to see no leaks. We had a beer baptism, and Ammy broke the aluminum can on the aluminum boat.
