Captain's Log

Skinwalker Log February 2, 2007, Friday

I am what I am: A slug at times; sometimes a god. I yield to the ego in me, so easily, quickly, and often with no remorse. Last week was Trawler Fest and our presentation entitled Living the Dream. The powers in charge told us the evening before that no one was going to be there to introduce us. I suggested to Lynn we do a song to Gilbert & Sullivan’s keynote song in the opera, The Pirates of Penzance. She laughed and said “no” too quickly, which means “yes” later. She penned words to the music that night. I can tell my critics that we successfully made our professional singing debut the next morning. Lynn was terrific, I persevered at terrible. They applauded her brilliance and my audacity to even attempt to sing. Hey, they’re going to pay me for singing, what can I say?

We had them at hello. It was easy. Nothing is usually easy for me, but this was so easy. This presentation lasts ninety minutes, we tell a few cool cruising stories, we make some great jokes at my expense, we answer a lot of questions, great questions, thoughtful questions. We learn more than they do with each answer.

Three years, we’re still here, hello. We aren’t the new kids on the block anymore. We live, breathe, eat, laugh and love on our vessel. We don’t know everything, in fact the more we learn the less we know, but now we are more experienced than most. We are confident, but not cocky. We are comfortable, but watchful. That is way cool.

We enjoy our life. Every day is a new adventure, a new experience. Our days are exciting, usually busy, a few maybe a little too exciting if the wind decides to blow harder than we like. Most days are just absolutely glorious.

Since thirty years of age, I asked frequently, is that all there is? My life was future expectations, seldom in the now, nor in the present. Daily events were usually a drag, but there was always tomorrow to hope for, to dream of. I begged for tomorrow to be today. Now it is today and tomorrow is today and the day after is today. All of my days are in the now, and now is really, really good. This is the way of life living with Lynn on a boat.

I want for you, all your days to fit words like languish, contentment, happiness. Here’s to living life large and full.

Wayne & Lynn Flatt