A Boat Ride for Nadine (and me)

Nadine got a glorious ride in the Waymans' "motorboat" Thursday, going fast and totally loving it. It actually began with a an invitation to me to swim in the lake with Betty -- I happily accepted, bringing Nadine along with me -- she settled in comfortably on the lawn with her beadwork and then took a nap. I had a nice swim, happy to go in one more time before summer was over.

Betty invited us both for dinner outside, and after that she said that Bill was taking the "motor boat" out on the lake and invited us. I thought a "motorboat" was a rowboat with a motor that putt-putted slowly like a small floating bathtub. Was I wrong! This one was fast and zippy, tilting to the side when it turned, and Betty got behind and water-skiied, looking gorgeous in the light.

Nadine promptly scampered to the front (bow) and was ecstatic, her face beautifully illuminated by the soon-to-be-setting sun. She looked like she'd found a new passion. She stayed up there the whole time with much grinning. She said she'd love to water-ski once she was up to it.

The late afternoon was gorgeous, the water filled with blue,green and gold lights, the horizon and sky blue, not a cloud in sight. The sun lowered, reflecting golden-orange on the water; the full moon came up to the east, also over the water, first appearing faint and blurred in the haze and slowly congealing into a clear, beautiful, perfectly focused globe. The sun touched the water, pressed against the horizon, and set. I could see Betty water-skiing behind the boat, the moon behind her.

I admit that at first I was pretty scared as the boat zoomed off, tilted towards the back, and then banked to the side when it turned. What if it capsized or scraped "bottom" in the shallows? Then suddenly the fear disappeared and I just loved it, enjoying the sweep of the boat against the water, the foam, and even the tilting. My experience reminded me of being a young child trying something new.

Nadine worked pretty hard the next day when the physical therapist arrived. Arm pulls and leg pulls with the blue elastic band for strengthening. She'll need to be in shape in order to learn to water-ski, and she said that's just what she wants to do.