Aging Gracefully

After much thought about how saddened I became when reminiscing with an old friend, I realize I need to start aging gracefully. For 40 years I told myself I will not get old, I will live forever young. Yet, as my 61st birthday approaches I was beginning to get stressed and angry that I don't have another 60 to go. Maybe, in fact, I do. Science is discovering new things all the time. With heart by-pass, robotic vacuum cleaners, gas/electric running cars, who knows when the fountain of youth will be discovered. Surely, it is just a matter of time.

There are many good years ahead, many great times to experience. With a nutritious eating plan, an envirgorating daily work out, good friends, intelligent colleagues, and a man who loves me, how can I not look forward to an endearing future. Rather than be sad of days gone by, like my best sailing friend, Karen, I need to savor the past with a smile, not a tear.

I only ask that ya'll help me keep my youth in the past and my golden years, golden!
Thanks, the sassy sailor, Marlene

One cries, the other laughs

Two of us met for the day after many months apart. Our basic interest remains the same, but our direction have altered. As we departed, I felt drained, as if I had lost my best friend. Afterall, she is racing on another team and seems to be in synch with their chosen activities. I think there is a values thing going on that separates us, too. I choose more adventurous activities. Yet, the jealous side of me comes through and along with a little depression, I perceive the end of an era. No more romps in the surf, no more ya'hoo times on the Hobie cat.

When I shared my bittersweet response, I learned that thinking of the same experiences she had a lighthearted approach, appreciated what had been and was happy for our times together. Guess I need to face up to our new life. AFter all I am nearly 61 and it's time to face reality, cherish the memories and look forward to whatever lies ahead for both of us, whether together or apart. HMMMMMMMMMMM---

Yikes I did it

For years I have been preaching if you want to get better you need to go to the experts, the folks who have proven to be successful, the people others look up to. Yet, it always seemed so daunting. Years ago, I remember how weird I felt asking to interview the president of several colleges for some research I wanted to do. Now, getting close to my second year in my sixth decade, I don't have time to waste as I pursue a new career.

What is it that I want? I want to be a better sailor. I want to join the ranks of sailors who have more experiences than I. I want to be a writer. So, last night, I sent an e-mail to a famous sailor and asked for an interview. My girlish message seemed silly as I admitted I was a fan of this person. In addition, I stated what I wanted, an interview with him and a mentor as I pursue my Sailing at Sixty campaign.

Wow, within 24 hours I received a reply asking to meet next Thursday. Jeepers, he lives about 1000 miles away so I would have to fly up to meet with him. I wrote back asking for a day and time the week of my spring break. Wow, imagine me, getting to shake hands with one of my sailing idols after all these years. What a great way to practice my interview skills as I prepare an article on my reservation about contacting him. As soon as the interview is in print, ya'll will know who I met with.

The best part is that this is just the beginning.............................And all I had to do was ask!

Spring Cleaning

Ay, with the clocks sprung forward we get more daylight where darkness once prevailed. With the added sunshine the Melbourne Yacht Club and Indian River Yacht Club begin there evening races. In the Cocoa/Rockledge area, IRYC hosts a Wednesday night series, while MYC hosts the Friday night Rhum races. What a wonderful time to sail.

Sure the die hards take these no committee boat, honor system races to heart, but for most it is a great time to bring on new crew and simply enjoy living in paradise.The MYC Rhum racers use a reverse handicap system which is great fun. Like the tortoise and the hare, the faster boats are tasked with chasing down the slower boats. In a perfect world everyone would cross the line at the same time. Perhaps the only regret is no one is ever on station to capture the many photo finishes that occur.

The other caveat to the extra hours of daylight is it allows extra time at the end of the day to clean up our boats and get them in great shape for spring and summer sailing. Speaking of, it is time for me to get serious about my summer plan to sail north. Any and all suggestions for a successful sail from here to the Statue of Liberty are welcome. It is expected I will combine offshore time with ICW time to ensure a safe voyage. My current plan includes a buddy boat, "Talespinner," with skipper Christine Kling. Christine is the author of a series of books including Wrecker's Key.

Anyway, life is really about you, not me. So, get out and enjoy the evenings, lest you forget this Wednesday's sunset will be followed by the rising full moon. So clean your decks, clean out your lockers, clean out the bilget, then get on board,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's time to sail!

sailing, sailing, every chance I get

It is a good thing my addiction is to sailing, a sport that entices me with a constant challenge. Sometimes the challenge is to get a crew together. Other times, it is a challenge to teach the crew. Still other times, the challenge is to train me. Whatever the challenge sailing keeps me motivated to sail some more.

Three days a week I host dockside chats. Two on my F28 tri and one on a Lindenberg 28. With springtime on her doorstep it is expected our dockside chats will morph into short one hour sails emphasizing just one skill. For example, tacking, tacking, tacking. When you break it down there are several dimensions. There is releasing the jib sheet, trimming on the new tack; there is pushing the tiller over, releasing the mainsheet a tad, stalling for a millisecond so the crew can get the jib in quickly, watching where you are going, watching for other boats, tacking on a shift, coordinating everyone's movement, and communicating throughout the maneaver. Other skills will also be worked on.

In addition to the weekly chats, there is the monthly women's series, the commodore's goal to get me to attend more parties, the coed series on the Lindenberg, the fun Rhum races on my F28 tri and the bi-weekly sunfish races. Now, friends want me to attend out of area races. Lastly, I need to squeeze in planning for my summer cruise to the Statue of Liberty. Oh yea, all of this while continuing to work 50 + hours a week as a School Counselor, following Dr. Phil's 14 day plan to improving one's relationship with a loved one - in this case, my honey poo and me have agreed to 30 minutes a day. Then, there is time for walking the dog 2 - 3 mornings a week and swimming for 30 minutes 5 days a week. Anything else? OH yea, quit eating all those carbs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,l

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, better go get some sleep. Love to all,

What brought me to want to sail solo?

This question was posed by a new e-friend I met on Sea Knots, a website for sailors. It seems decent. A solo sailor and author who I met in Lil' Harbor last summer is an active Sea Knots person, so I thought I would give it a go. You might want to check it out. In the meantime, here is my response to the question, "What brought me to want to sail solo?

Answer: Reading Robin Graham's book, 'The Dove.'

YIKES

More than four weeks have passed since my 'weather class.' It wasn't a formal class but it was a learning experience. As you may have read in my last blog, Jennifer brought to light that forecasters have a 15% margin of error. If they say the winds will be 20 knots than you multiply 20 by .15. That would give you about a 3 knot plus or minus of 20; in essence the winds might be as low as 17 and as high as 23. So, let's give the weatherman a break. :-)

Now that I have that embedded, I need to get on with other important details to refine my racing. There are so many dynamics to becoming a success that I have to rely on my counseling background to get things in perspective. You, too can consider these dynamics in whatever you want to achieve.

1. personal attributes
2. physical attributes
3. dynamics of the sport or endeavor

Personally, I am a jealous person, full of insecurity, believing others are smarter and more well-liked. I am also inspired and motivated by what others do. For example, when a friend and sailing rival asked me to critique a writing of hers, I knew I needed to get back to my blog and begin my next article for publication. I'm not sure what to do with the jealousy.

Physically, I am a wreck; others think I'm in decent shape, but I want to be in great shape. Two days ago I walked the dog. Yesterday, I did some resistance training, today I ate a calzone,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Racing sailboats is a challenge. The more I learn and practice the more I make the same mistakes. Take the match racing I did last week. One of the basic rules of match racing is to sail on the opposite leg to the layline, if you are behind your opponent. So, why oh why when my opponent tacked onto port, did I NOT stay on starboard. Sure, it looked like more wind on his side of the course, but duh? he would get it before me.

I get so frustrated with my losses. So depressed at my lack of energy. Really angry that I think someone else is going to do better than me.

Here's to a better outlook because in my heart I know there is much good to be shared.