Sitting On The Dock

Great story, your stepfather sounds like he left you with a lot. When you think of your parents, remember they were amateurs as child rearing. When I was sailing with my father, I loved to watch the water go by the boat and frequently watch the bottom go under the boat. It was very shallow draft and the Chesapeake is shallow over much of the area we'd sail. In the service, I'd love to stand by the rail and watch in ocean pass the hull, foam and bubbles curling away. I drove both of my wives nuts when they dragged me on cruises by standing at the rail and watching to water go by when they wanted to go somewhere and do something cruisey.

Loved your story! I grew up on the west coast. Vancouver, Vancouver Island. I went to Tofino and Long Beach this past summer with my sister and my dad, it was an amazing experience. I miss that ocean and the salt air so much. We experienced the crashing waves of Long Beach and the wharf in Tofino. We ate fresh fish and just wandered the docks looking at the fishing boats and the fishermen bringing in their daily catch. My dad lives on the Island and I love to walk along the beach and sit on the rocks in the coves. The water lapping on the rocks and the treasure hunting along the beach when the tide goes out. One day I will be back there to live, there is just no place like it! We can get so caught up in the chaos of life, and it takes a message like yours to remind us to take a look at the good experiences of our lives and learn to let go of the painful stuff. If we don't have good memories, start creating them. Life is short!............................thankyou

Loved your story, loved all the comments. Rehashing the good moments of your childhood can always bring a warmth inside. I grew up on the east coast and reading your story reminded me of many summers as a child - spending them on the lake. We'd fish, swim and sometimes just lay back on the dock looking at the clouds trying to find the many images in them.
When things get tough for me I like to think of those carefree times, those happy times, those warm times. It brings me back to having no responsibilities, no cares, no worries It gives an inner peace back into my soul to know that I have those memories but I haven't let my mind escape to those moments in quite awhile (to much on my plate lately)

Thank you for your beautiful story and helping me put the brakes on to remember my past a little bit. :-)

From Coos Bay as well, live in Montana now, but still miss crabbing when I lived there and Bandon

I lived in Coos Bay, Oregon for a couple of years back around the same time you would have been crabbing with your stepfather...so I completely get what you're saying about the docks in that area. They became my safe haven when I needed to think...or simply regain my sense of self and feel more at peace. It was a very difficult time in my life...and I truly believe the moments I spent on a couple of those docks in and around the empire area helped my state of mind tremendously.

I had the opportunity to travel back through Coos Bay in 2004...and it wasn't the same place. Well...it was the same place...but the magic wasn't there like it had been. Perhaps it's because life goes on...and you never really can go back in time.

Cool story. Thanks for sharing. :)

You had a good life just in those things you mention, didn't you? Those memories will stay with you forever. The sents and sounds....the tastes....the sights of the sun in it's different aspects on the ocean....the legs of the crabs waving wildly....helping your father....all working together making the wreaths...knowing you helped your family....that was good.

I grew up not far from coos bay, though I am allergic I LOVED crabbing there, I now live on the east coast and the Atlantic doesnt hold the same magic that the pacific does, thanks for bringing back my own memories :D

I remember as a child walking with my dad looking down into the water at the oyster shells & wishing I could dive in & retrieve the pearls that may have been in them.

wonderful :)