More than a Moment...

Friday, October 14th we bought our boat.  Since then I have made a handful of trips to the marina to check things out and make a list of what needs to be done to get her ready to sail...I've bought boat parts to get her ready to sail...I have fussed and been tempted to say things preachers ought not say when the new parts didn't fit...and I've made a couple of trips to West Marine.  Soon...very soon...the parts I ordered today should be here and we will be yet another step closer to hoisting her sails.  Honestly, the boat is in good shape...but she needed some attention from someone who wanted to take her out sailing and not simply live on her.

But today was a special day.  Today was the first day Angela has been to the boat since we bought it.  Today was the first day Angela and I have been to the boat together...without the previous owner trying to convince us to break out the check book.  But, as is typical of our Fridays, our time was limited based on the caregivers for my mother-in-law.  We had six hours...six hours to do a few errands in Wilmington, get to Southport and get home in time for the caregiver to leave.

One reason we bought the boat was for an escape...a refuge...a place to steal away some time and relax.  So, we intentionally decided not to let our time schedule interfere with that goal.  Oh, we flirted with the idea of skipping Southport and the boat today, but in the end decided to go.  And it was worth it!

The weather was absolutely beautiful and the sky clear.  The marina, though tucked into a nice little harbor or lagoon type of setting, was filled with a nice steady breeze.  As we parked the car, the clock was ticking.  Within an hour...no more...we needed to be in the car and backing out of our parking space.  But it was worth it!

Today there were no chores...no to-do-lists...no projects undertaken.  Today was about being...being in the moment.  For fifty-five minutes we sat in the cockpit of the boat taking in the view of the marina, watching boats come and go, soaking up the sun-shine, and getting lost in conversations...and silence.  

We have yet to cast off the lines and push away from the dock; we have yet to hoist a sail; our fenders have remained over the side of the boat.  But today our little boat carried us to the destination we had hoped for.  Sure, according to our watches we were there only a moment; but in truth, it was more...it was so much more than a moment.