moonrise, Canon 300D
We were in a boat race last Friday night (my first real experience on a boat!) and just as I was getting used to the gravity-defying tilt to one side and the subsequent scramble/crawl to the other edge of the vessel {to balance out the weight} we stopped suddenly.
We could see the final buoy in the distance and we were in second place. “Come on wind!” we shouted, but nothing. All of the boats in the race floated in the middle of the bay like a giant bathtub full of toys.
We relaxed for a while but started to get worried when 45 minutes later the wind still didn’t pick up. “Time for beer!” it was decided and so we all drank beer and sipped whiskey from someone’s flask.
It was a warm night (unusual for San Francisco) and we were all still in t-shirts and shorts floating under the brilliant dusk. The moon rose quickly and we all paused to watch it.
“I think we’re going backwards now,” someone concluded with a laugh.
I climbed to the other side of the boat and saw the city silhouetted in tangerine and thought, ‘I must be the luckiest person in the world.’
And I remembered that gratitude comes in moments, in the tiniest slices of time imaginable. It comes in moments when we stop, when we are going nowhere, when we pause to look up at the night sky and remember the glow of the moon.
“Turn the motor on Captain! I’m hungry.” I heard someone say. And just like that, the spell was broken. And off we went back to shore…
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I’m really glad I found your site. You inspire me. Thanks.
How far are you from Union Square?
Great story & photo! I love how you have captured the colors of the dusky sky.
I had my first sailing experience earlier this summer, and it was incredible. There is something about being out on the water that brings such peace.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I sailed for 3 years in the Caribbean, its a wonderful thing, an experience cannot be fully described or appreciated until it happens to you. I love the sea, where ever I go its never far from me.
To sail is to appreciate mother earth, and yes, sometimes you can be the luckiest person on earth.
xo
Deanna
I’ve had so many wonderful experiences with water and boats. I’m so happy that you’ve started your own collection!! Here’s to many more great times, both in and out of the water…
did you write about gratitude coming in moments before? maybe i read it somewhere else. i can’t think of it now.
but yes, it does and it is so nice when it happens because you can try to put it away in your head to remember when you aren’t having that. in fact, i think the moment in time when you pause, look up and think ‘i am really lucky, i am really happy in this moment’ is like creating life. there’s nothing like it and it feels so fleeting but when you have it, that is all there is.
oh Andrea what a glorious picture!
I LOVE the moon!
Andrea,
I love the picture and the way you told the story. I was on a sailboat race once, it was exiting and a lot of work; and to think that my only task was to stay out of the way and not fall into the water!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Have a good night,
B
andrea,
you are such a great story teller. i just love this adventure of mine.
i think that god stops us once in awhile to make sure we don’t forget how beautiful life is around us. it’s up to us to notice the stop and take time to appreciate. how great that you noticed how blessed you are.
jenn