Graceful Gratitude

A fellow sailor and his wife, Barbara and Tim, were tied up near us and having problems with their engine. Tim, by his own admission, was not well schooled as diesel mechanic, in fact his plan was to stay on the dock until wind enabled them to sail off home sans engine. I suggested it may be his seawater impeller, he said “that may be outside my skill range”. I said “it’s relatively easy” and he agreed to try. It was then when Barbara chimes in: “you go ahead and try, I’ll pray for wind”. Barbara had a notebook of sorts and appeared to be keeping notes on all of the action. Turns out it was the impeller and i had a spare but it didn’t fit so they decided to sail, much to Barbara’s relief. As I helped them off the dock Barbara shouted back: “there’s a surprise under the cushion on you deck”. Turns out she wasn’t taking notes, she’s an artist and to thank us she painted a scene from the harbor. Thanks are always an unexpected grace, we don’t do things to be thanked, but every once in awhile you experience and incredibly graceful gesture. ✌️Read more