When it was time to get my ‘crew’ an engagement ring, the solution was to trade my beloved Jet 14 for a 5′ 2″ future wife. The vessel was named “CHARCOAL”, a reference to my first ‘money maker’; selling bags of charcoal briquettes from door-to-door in ‘toni’ Deal, NJ.
With ring in hand, and Miss Sheryl Kesman of Ludlow, VT asleep on a sagging couch at Red Bank, NJ’s Monmouth Boat Club (where I had raced the 14 footer), I asked the 5 footer if she would . . . . “Uh, marry me.” She repositioned herself, murmuring “why are you trying to wake me up?” I repeated my pitch. Her “Yes!” was more enthusiastic than when, as she was so often, shanghaied to crew at regattas along the Jersey Shore and Long Island’s South Shore.
Years later, when I had recovered from the financial pounding of the diamond purchase, I acquired my ‘next’ (‘next’ is never ‘ last’) boat.
It was my wife’s roommate at Boston University who had introduced us. That little trouble making co-ed, when I bought that next boat, challenged – – – “If he really loves you, he’ll name that boat after you!”
But SHERYL on the stern did not seem to convey the ‘message’ that transoms oft do; so I elected, in a vain attempt to convince my wife that she came first, to name the boat SECOND FIDDLE.
Now married fifty years; that’s how. – Robert Tepper
Nice piece, and a great shot of the 34 powering through the surf! Thank you, Bob.
When my wife, Kathi, and I first got together 17 years ago, I had already owned Persevererance, my SS 23, for at least that long. She knew the love I had for the boat, and the bond that was there. She never tried to compete but instead embraced that love, recognizing that I was probably at my best, and most fulfilled while on the water!
This summer we purchased a boat together, **** 28 which we have named Gosling. Although this is now “our boat”,and the reason she lobbied for the deal was to do some cruising together, I still at times head off by myself with a pair of oars, a six-pack cooler, a sandwich, and duffle. She asks “Going to see your girlfriend?” I smile. She kisses me and begs me be careful. God, I love that woman (and that boat). No competition, just an understanding.
Dana