Monday, August 21, 2006

In Praise of Tama



One of JT's best days of the summer was the Wednesday of our camping trip to Cape Cod, when T took the boys out in the bay in her kayak. JT was one part anxious and one part excited as the adventure approached and I wondered if he would really go out in the water. But T's quiet confidence and obvious enthusiasm for the trip won him over and once D had successfully completed a trip, JT happily climbed in.

It was a foggy morning and the tide was out so they could go far from the shore in total safety. That's perfect recipe for boy fun because the boys were impressed to be out so far in the water. They felt brave and strong. S and I watched from the shore as the yellow kayak paddled out into the fog.

We spent the morning out on the beach that day, T giving the boys turn after turn in the water. But the best part of that day was yet to come: JT has talked about it every week since we returned from the camping trip. We open up the computer and look at the pictures and recall the perfection of that morning and those trips in the kayak.

And it makes me so happy to know that my boy has such memories of excitement and bravery and being a strong from a summer that started on such a rough note.

So here's to T, whose patient kayak missions really helped to make our summer strong and good.

2 comments:

JAXTER said...

There is nothing like being on the water to bring about one's realization regarding their inner strengths. Sounds as though this was the perfect experience for JT, yeehaw!

Shelley said...

This is such a sweet record of that great day! T & D will be thrilled to see and read it as soon as they're back from Grammy and Grampy land.

Thank you for this lovely gift of words and images.