I found these pictures taken of my family's boat. My Father , The Captain at the wheel.
When my brother was recovering from Polio, my Father purchased this Cabin Cruiser. Water exercise was one of the methods to help him and my Father figured he would give him the biggest "Pool " possible.
Every weekend for years we packed up the car and left for The Lake of the Ozarks.
I can remember the smell of the lake as we descended down gravel roads to the boat dock.
We always stopped at a small grocery to add fresh milk, etc. to the items that Mother had packed in the trunk.
In those days the Lake was not overcrowded. There were a few commercial cabins to rent and many personal cabins.
As I remember those years 1943-1946, it is obvious what an impression they made on me.
It slept eight people, had a small kitchen and loo. I remember laying in the bunk listening to my parents and friends . They would put up a card table on the back of the boat to play endless games of Canasta. Lanterns hung from the ceiling casting a warm glow on the scene.
Mother was able to cook on the smallest of stoves. Amazing. And wash dishes in the smallest of sinks. I remember the blue and white enamel dishes.
Grandmother lived with us but I don't remember her ever coming on these trips. No doubt, she was happy to stay at home with the cats and her violets. A quiet house to read in and relax. I never said, Grandmother was stupid
One time was very, very scary. It was on a Sat. evening. The boat engine had choked. We were close to shore but far from the Boat Dock and civilization. Father took out a long pole and poled us into a cove. There my Uncle and he worked on the engine. It was a messy job and things were not going well. I remember them gathered around the hole in the floor where the engine was.
My teenage sister had been given the task of reading a book to me to keep me calm and out of everyone's hair.
I don't remember it working as I was scared and heard every word of the adults.
The weather was turning very ominous. The smell of rain in the air. Father had a radio on that was giving him information. A bad storm was in the offing, all boats told to head for the docks. Except we couldn't move !
My Mother yelled from the deck. We all clambered up the narrow stairs to see Mother pointing out across the lake.
A huge wall of white water was coming across the lake whipping up waves.
I have never seen anything like it since but I can tell you it was frightening. We were in a cove, no power and in the path of all that fury.
Well, of course, I am here so we survived. But it was something one does not forget, being rocked in a wooden boat with the furies banging you around.
The next morning a large boat arrived to tow us into the Dock. What a Great Ride
Father sold the Boat in 1946. My Brother had gone off to University and Mother , no doubt, was now glad to not packing up to leave home every weekend.
I last saw the Boat when I was a newlywed. We and my Sister's family went down to the Lake. We inquired as to the Boat's location. Then we sailed into the Ship Yard.
There she was in Dry Dock. Smaller than I remembered. Not quite as clean and shiny as when my Father and Brother spent hours keeping her Ship Shape. Her wood not so varnished, no American Flag hanging from her stern. No Brass Bell waiting to be rung.
As I stood there, I could have sworn she knew me . Was it my imagination or did she give a slight dip in my direction ?
Her name ? She was called " For Heavens Sake ". after all she was a valued member of my Heaven family.
