Cathy in the Wright

Black Saturday

I ask you to excuse the somber tone of today’s post. We are in mourning here at The Outpost. Yesterday we took the jet ski out for the final ride of the season. There has been much wailing and grinding of teeth since the trailer came out of storage. We may have to hire a grief counselor for The Governor.

The boys and I took the SeaDoo out for her final trip. I wish I could say it was a great day for a ride, but I can’t. The wind was creating some small white-capped waves and the water temperature never recovered from an earlier cold spell. We enjoyed ourselves for a time, bouncing off waves and “getting some big air” as The Governor would say. There was a lot of yee-ha-ing and whoopee-ing. Next season I’m going to install an air horn that bleats out “Dixie.”

But the fun was short-lived. When I slowed down at an inopportune time, we were broadsided by a big wave and got drenched. And while we were wiping our eyes so we could see where we were going…bam! Hit by another big wave. The boys changed their minds about the level of fun involved and I turned us back to the dock amid cries of “I’m cold!” and “Hurry up!”

Once on dry land, both boys started talking about going out again once the wind died down. Sorry, punks, I said, but this is it until next summer. The General Lee is up on blocks until then.

The following scene is too touching to put down in words. I will only say that my children were inconsolable. The ice cream and DVD of their choice lessened the anguish, but it may be months before they fully recover.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be donated to the Hurricane Katrina charity of your choice.

Posted by Cathy at September 11, 2005 10:12 AM