Shush

I have to be honest, since we’ve arrived here in Solomons we’ve (I’ve) done nothing on the boat. We do need to make some repairs before we head further north on the Bay but sometimes one needs a break from boat-work. I wish I could say we’ve been lounging by the pool eating bonbons but I’m not even sure what a bonbon is so eating one would be tricky. Time slips away quicker than ever and it’s been a couple weeks of running back and forth to get the truck and see family, etc.  Yes… we still have our truck. We keep trying to sell it but it’s hard to part with since we aren’t jumping off to exotic ports right now. We still have a dog and at times, jobs and its been a godsend but we’ve sure spent a lot of money flying from here to there to pick it up and move it as we go up the coast. That juggling act will end this summer as we’ll park it at my brothers house until we decide what we’re doing this fall.

As always seems to be the case, our cruising kitty is once again on life support so getting to Maine this summer was a pipe dream. Heading to Florida this fall seems daunting since our rig needs attention, therefore limiting me to very conservative sailing or the dastardly ICW and that just makes me stupid with misery.  Our water-lift muffler is on its last legs and our instrument panel debacle is yet to be resolved. But… sometimes one needs a break and a break is what we’ve taken. I’m not good with breaks. They peck and noodle at my conscience repeatedly. But I’m forcing myself and when the wallet is unwilling… its pretty easy to do.

During this forced sabbatical, I’ve been busy writing and ramping up the music portion of my life and it feels as if I’m learning to walk again. Thinking in terms of songs and not blog posts, getting the fingers back in shape for guitar and struggling to remember the chords to my own songs has been weird but unexpectedly wonderful. It’s amazing what happens if you just quiet your inner dialogue and listen. As my sweet old grandmother would tell me, “Shush!” You know… if your mouth is moving, your ears aren’t workin’ and for years I’ve had diarrhea of the gums and constipation of the mind. Sorry, a horrible analogy I know but true.

As I write from the cockpit it feels like a fall day here. It’s in the mid 70’s with no humidity. This weekend is supposed to be beautiful and we may toss off the dock lines and just sail, for the day. I know right! How bizarre that will be. Not trying to get somewhere before sunset. Not making time, diverting due to weather or getting into the anchorage before it fills up. We’re gonna day sail. Pack a lunch, pull sail and head in whichever direction the mama wind will allow. Quietly. Listening.

**NOTE FROM MELODY: Several people have emailed us asking where to get Chris’ music… you can purchase on iTunes and CD Baby.