Ahhh… The Holidays!

Have you ever noticed that sometime between Thanksgiving and New Year, when you ask somebody for help and they respond with “No, it’s the Holidays”? Or you want to get help with winterizing the boat, and they are like “No, it’s the Holidays”.

Could you come over and help me move some stuff from the basement and they be like “NO, it’s the Holidays”. People use this excuse constantly. We have a December board meeting scheduled and nobody comes because “It’s the Holidays”.

So, this year whenever someone asks me for anything from Memorial Day to Labor Day, I’m going to tell them, “NO, It’s the Holidays!!!

A Perfect Example of Non boating Humans

Dateline: May 1, 2024
Location: Any College Campus, USA

Two students are walking down the hallway towards each other on a Friday afternoon.

They greet one another and each one asks what the other is up to this weekend. The first student carries two bottles of spray paint and a black towel. The other student carries a gallon of paint, a roller, two brushes, and a painter’s suit.

The first explains he is heading to The Protest and will be staying in a tent identical to everyone else’s. He plans to spray paint anti-American slogans on concrete and marble then plans on putting the black towel on the head of a colonist statue!

The other student explains he is heading down to his parents’ marina where their boat is. His dad asked him to take care of it and if the work is done by Friday, the whole family will spend the weekend in Kent Narrows checking out some live music and catching fish.

What would you rather be doing?

WHAT NON-BOATING HUMANS DO THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!

I walked to the mailbox the other day. I got two invitations.

One invitation was from my lovely niece whose fiancé I really like! His name is Timmy. They are looking forward to being married this summer high in the Poconos Mountains. It is a destination wedding where we are all going to stay in log cabins, eat at a huge family-style gathering hall, and stand in front of a jumbo fire while making s’mores and singing Kumbaya!

My niece has always been very supportive of me and my life and has always been there for me. She was my wedding planner and volunteered the whole time. She even paid the huge bar tab. Timmy asked me to be his best man which I appreciate.

The other invitation was from a distant high school buddy Jonny, who after 23 years of college has finally gotten his associate degree. I haven’t spoken to him in many years. He is throwing a weekend-long party on the Bohemian River and at the Chesapeake Inn the very same weekend as the wedding!

I sure hope my Niece and Timmy will be understanding

TUNNELS AND BRIDGES SEEM CONFUSED THESE DAYS! I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY…

bridge (noun) · bridges (plural noun) a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle:

tunnel (noun) · tunnels (plural noun) an artificial underground passage, especially one built through a hill or under a building, road, or river.

These structures to me are very different. But in today’s world people seem to think that bridges can be tunnels and tunnels can be bridges. I know that this sounds strange and maybe it’s hyperbole, but these are some serious times and I scratch my head a lot.

And then there is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel that links Maryland and Virginia! A tunnel in between two bridges… But that is a whole different story! Trust me on that one!!!

Parents today have to teach the kids about the Birds and Bees. Bees and Bees, Birds and Birds, Birds that were Bees and Bees that are now Birds and Bees that became Birds but still have a stinger.

YACHT CLUB OPENING WEEKEND THOUGHTS

Opening Weekends at our assorted yacht clubs around the Upper Bay are A LOT OF FUN!

I mean a tremendous amount of FUN! I think about some of the people that walked these grounds before we did — the ladies and gentlemen that built these waterfront social clubs.

Over a long time, the yacht clubs have provided some of the best waterfront gatherings for our families. So, raise a glass if you are at one of the openings and think about those that came before.

PERSONAL NOTE!!!

I would like to take a moment to wish a colleague of ours a very Happy Birthday.

This person has worked incredibly hard in our industry. She has done more and seen more than most. She took care of vast amounts of business for a lot of great people in our community.

Off and on she has worked with me for my entire life. Together, she and I ran what became the Marina of the Year in 2022, the Baltimore Boating Center! She has been my best friend, ally, partner, cohort, and such… She will always be my “Favorite Sister Brenda” …

So, as I write this, I’m happily choked up thinking about all the incredible memories we have made over this lifetime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA WILMOTH!

You are one of the nicest, coolest, and best people I’ve ever known.