Thoughts After One Year

thinkxingu · 08-18-2015, 10:13 AM

My wife and I picked up our Crest pontoon at Trexler's this day last year--we had never owned a boat and hadn't been on one other than cruise ships in the last two decades. We chose a pontoon because we felt it would be safer for our young children and give them some freedom to sit/stand different places--they have come to love standing at the front gate DiCaprio-style.

We weren't in the best position financially, but my mother, who was struggling with liver cancer, really wanted to see the land from the lake and enjoy an opportunity that she had worked toward her whole life--they had purchased a camp in Arcadia, what they could afford, just a few months prior to being diagnosed in August, 2013. Shortly after they bought, my wife and I closed on our own place with the vision of a long future with my parents and children at the lake.

Mom never made it onto our boat. It was a bit surreal signing papers and getting onboard a vessel purchased for a reason that no longer existed, but my wife, kids, and my dad vowed to appreciate every moment aboard "Boatie" (my 5-year-old's choice of monikers).

That Friday night, we set sail from Trexler's and headed to Center Harbor, where I docked for the first time and where we had our first ice cream by boat--it was a magical moment that I posted to Facebook for my siblings to show Mom in her hospice bed.

I like to think she lived her dream vicariously through our adventures.

Mom left us ten days later, but not before I could share with her some great moments of what I knew she was most proud of: her son's success. Because of her dedication and industry, we had the great fortune of experiencing what many aren't fortunate enough to.

It is for this reason that each day on the lake is a gift.

In that time, we have met great people--people we raft with, talk shop with, or just kind people who have lent helping hands at the marina, public docks, or, most often, who have walked us in to swimming areas and helped me anchor.

The lake has also brought many growing experiences: my 5-year-old l'il buddy tubed by himself in Moultonborough Bay and is jumping off the storage area of our boat (the swim platform is no longer challenging enough!), and the confidence he has gained has propelled him to shed his training wheels on land.

My 3-year-old l'il sweetie? Well, she's not quite as brave as her big bro, but she loves sitting on the tube in open water, and I know she'll catch up.

It's been a great ride so far, and we've only just begun.

Cheers,

Shawn

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VitaBene · 08-18-2015, 10:22 AM

Sorry for your loss. Mom is looking down and is happy!

ishoot308 · 08-18-2015, 10:37 AM

Wonderful story!

Very sorry for your loss...

Dan

SIKSUKR · 08-18-2015, 01:24 PM

Thanks for that story.The lake is a great healer.

thinkxingu · 08-18-2015, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Thanks for that story.The lake is a great healer.

Boating is good therapy, that's for sure!

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Rattlesnake Gal · 08-18-2015, 04:41 PM

Shawn, thank you for taking the time to share your story. I am very sorry for your loss, but know that your mom is smiling down on her family that's making beloved memories together. That's everything to a mother.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Celia

caloway · 08-18-2015, 09:02 PM

Enjoy what you have each day that you have. Thank you for the memories. Enjoy the lake.

SAMIAM · 08-19-2015, 08:29 AM

Smile of the great spirit looking down on you.

dippasan · 08-20-2015, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the great story.
It's for the ones we love that are still with us and the ones we love that are gone, that we unofficially named our boat
"Wish You Were Here"

08-18-2015, 10:13 AM	#1
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,945 Thanks: 1,154 Thanked 1,962 Times in 1,212 Posts	Thoughts After One Year My wife and I picked up our Crest pontoon at Trexler's this day last year--we had never owned a boat and hadn't been on one other than cruise ships in the last two decades. We chose a pontoon because we felt it would be safer for our young children and give them some freedom to sit/stand different places--they have come to love standing at the front gate DiCaprio-style. We weren't in the best position financially, but my mother, who was struggling with liver cancer, really wanted to see the land from the lake and enjoy an opportunity that she had worked toward her whole life--they had purchased a camp in Arcadia, what they could afford, just a few months prior to being diagnosed in August, 2013. Shortly after they bought, my wife and I closed on our own place with the vision of a long future with my parents and children at the lake. Mom never made it onto our boat. It was a bit surreal signing papers and getting onboard a vessel purchased for a reason that no longer existed, but my wife, kids, and my dad vowed to appreciate every moment aboard "Boatie" (my 5-year-old's choice of monikers). That Friday night, we set sail from Trexler's and headed to Center Harbor, where I docked for the first time and where we had our first ice cream by boat--it was a magical moment that I posted to Facebook for my siblings to show Mom in her hospice bed. I like to think she lived her dream vicariously through our adventures. Mom left us ten days later, but not before I could share with her some great moments of what I knew she was most proud of: her son's success. Because of her dedication and industry, we had the great fortune of experiencing what many aren't fortunate enough to. It is for this reason that each day on the lake is a gift. In that time, we have met great people--people we raft with, talk shop with, or just kind people who have lent helping hands at the marina, public docks, or, most often, who have walked us in to swimming areas and helped me anchor. The lake has also brought many growing experiences: my 5-year-old l'il buddy tubed by himself in Moultonborough Bay and is jumping off the storage area of our boat (the swim platform is no longer challenging enough!), and the confidence he has gained has propelled him to shed his training wheels on land. My 3-year-old l'il sweetie? Well, she's not quite as brave as her big bro, but she loves sitting on the tube in open water, and I know she'll catch up. It's been a great ride so far, and we've only just begun. Cheers, Shawn Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

08-18-2015, 10:37 AM	#3
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,930 Thanks: 2,287 Thanked 4,940 Times in 1,916 Posts	Wonderful story! Very sorry for your loss... Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

08-18-2015, 01:24 PM	#4
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Thanks for that story.The lake is a great healer. __________________ SIKSUKR

08-18-2015, 04:41 PM	#6
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Your Story Shawn, thank you for taking the time to share your story. I am very sorry for your loss, but know that your mom is smiling down on her family that's making beloved memories together. That's everything to a mother. Enjoy the rest of the summer! Celia

08-18-2015, 09:02 PM	#7
caloway Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: exeter, nh Posts: 73 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts	thank you Enjoy what you have each day that you have. Thank you for the memories. Enjoy the lake.

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08-18-2015, 10:22 AM	#2
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,570 Thanked 1,601 Times in 821 Posts	Sorry for your loss. Mom is looking down and is happy!

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08-19-2015, 08:29 AM	#8
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,836 Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts	Smile of the great spirit looking down on you.

08-20-2015, 01:41 PM	#9
dippasan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hooksett NH and Sleepers Isl Posts: 383 Thanks: 275 Thanked 178 Times in 75 Posts	"Wish You Were Here" Thanks for the great story. It's for the ones we love that are still with us and the ones we love that are gone, that we unofficially named our boat "Wish You Were Here" __________________ Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity

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