Monday, August 11, 2008

Oh Captain My Captain

Captain Kevin

There are a so many reasons I love the Northwest and so little time and space to list them all. As I was in Washington this weekend I had a chance to go sailing. I had never been on a sail boat before and found that I was just like a little boy asking his Dad what made the car engine run. The owner of the boat enjoyed my enthusiasm and quickly filled me in on his 40 years of sailing knowledge. I was like a sponge absorbing every word he spoke. He taught me how to crank up the sails, how to steer the boat, how to tack, how to identify and name parts of the boat, and how to relax and enjoy the wind in your face as the boat cuts smoothly through the water.

All hands on Deck

I'm not sure I am ready to man my own sail boat, but over all the experience was exciting.

Sunset

Its funny how you can do something and then become so excited about it that you want to abandon all the things you normally do and go do that one thing. This is how I felt about sailing. Its strange that as an adult I find myself falling into my same childhood traps. As a kid, I frequently would get excited about something and want to do that one thing forever. One time, I watched the movie "Three Ninjas" and for about two months after that I was positive that Ninja would be my future career. I also did the same thing with hockey (Mighty Ducks). And also with flying (Top Gun). I can't even recall the amount of times I wanted to be a Ninja Turtle, even though I knew turtle was out of the question...Its not that I gave up on my temporary dreams but its that the excitement faded. Over time, only a few of these obsessions have I really stuck out till the end. (Snowboarding, Music, Etc.) Looking back, I know that my greatest memories in life have come from these crazy obsessions.

Off the shore of the Boat

Anyways, Sailing in Washington made me realize two things. One, I love the beautiful scenery. And two, don't give up so easily...sailing might be my next long lasting obsession.

6 comments:

Ashley Thalman said...

we miss your guts. can we come next time?

Merkley Jiating said...

That is really cute! I want to go!

Kristen said...

I think that you would excel as a ninja. I think you gave that dream up prematurely. I felt the same way watching those movies, I really wanted to be april from the teenage ninja turtles and emily from 3 ninjas and then wanted to play hockey after mighty ducks like the girl. Oh my other one was cutting edge, I took figure skating lessons after that movie.

Rhandi said...

I love sailing, too! One of the dreams I have not given up on is some day owning a sail boat and travel up and down the west coast free as a bird. We can do it together!

Aaron + Kayti said...

sailing rocks; to bad i cant see any of the damn pictures since they are blocked on my comp, but your words are fulfilling enough i suppose.
by the way.
my name is kayti oldham.
get it right.

Aaron Oldham said...

you don't have to read my blog unless you want to buy a house, OR REFER me all of your friends and family who want to buy a house. They don't have to live or move to Utah either. So don't waste your life away friend.

i wish i was john wayne. i had a lot of cap guns.