Sharing the Dock

Crafted for Saturday, August 6, 2011

As much as I relish my solitude on the dock, I am always happy to share it with family and friends when they come to visit us at camp. The tiny 8’ x 12’ dock can get a little crowded at times, but there’s a certain joy that comes with each splash from a little grand-niece or grand-nephew who has finally grown brave enough to jump into the water.

Today my nephew Jason arrived for the afternoon with his wife Michele and his two younger children. The kids, age 6 and 3, thoroughly enjoyed their time on the beach and in the water. Having two older cousins to play with (my own kids Emma and Paul) and a four month old puppy had them smiling and giggling in no time. What became apparent in no time, however, is that Alyssa and Jack are now old enough to give their parents some freedom to swim or to sun; they are now old enough to play independently with my own children. With the four children playing hide and seek, swinging, and picking blueberries together, it was rewarding today to have “dock time” with Jason and Michele, two of my all-time favorite people.

We took time to gab and to simply enjoy one another’s company. It was especially nice when my husband, who cannot be in the sun for too long without burning, surprised us by bringing a plate of nachos and french bread with olive oil with pepper to us. (He probably did not appreciate my calling him ‘cabana boy’ for the rest of the afternoon, however, but it was fun).

On the dock we talked about kids-- young and old, (we both have older daughters in college). We also discussed our careers, our homes, friendships, and fashion. The natural give-and-take of conversation, the seriousness of some topics mixed with the funny, humorous stories, made for a good afternoon. As we raise our families, it’s tough to get together more than a few times a year, so these afternoons of sharing the dock are enjoyed to their fullest.