The other day, I decided to take my boat out to Rocky Fork Lake of South East, Ohio for a sail. I thought I would relax after a hard week of work. Besides, the leaves are beginning to change and I thought I would get a close up look at the foliage. When I got there, I backed my boat, a 26 foot Luger Tradewinds sailing sloop, into the water. As soon as I boarded her, I entered a world free of stress or concern. I carefully backed away from the dock and then powered out to the middle of the lake. Normally, I would set my sails and spend the day tacking and jibing back and fourth across the lake. But this day was different. I decided to cut the motor and drop anchor. Instead of spending a day trying to get as much done as possible, I would simply spend it in the cock pit of my boat, laying back enjoying the wonderful view and sounds of nature. Off in the distance, there was a flock of Mallard ducks waddling around in the water near shore. I wondered for a moment, how easy their life must be. Closer, a fish leaped up out of the lake and then plunged back into the water as if he were attempting to sample my world. Clouds were rolling across the vast blue sky. All the while, birds were gathering in long lines so as to migrate South for the winter. After laying there for over an hour, I could not help but notice that one of the ducks I saw earlier left the security of his flock and instead began to approach my boat. I suppose he was curious. I tried very hard not to move. As I waited patiently, I gazed at the trees that adorned the distant shore. The leaves are just now beginning to change. Most are green even now in early October. I heard they are turning slowly this year because of all the rain we received this past summer. However, If I looked closely, I could just make out vague hints of burgundy, gold and orange. Every so many moments a gentle breeze would caress my cheek. I began to day dream back to when I was a child. There was an old house across the road from my home that belonged to an elderly woman. I would visit her often and play in her yard. In the yard, there was a giant oak tree. This particular tree was very unique for it had 2 large branches at arms length that stemmed out far from the trunk. And of those two branches, one had an area where it split into many branches like fingers extending from a cupped hand. It was perfect for sitting in. Never have I come across such a perfect tree for climbing. I would climb this tree for hours on end. Often, I would visit this tree and sit in my nook. I would simply lay back, look and listen as I did just the other day. You know what? Things were pretty much the same back then! Oh sure, times are different. The world continues to advance. But when I gazed upon the sky way back when, the same clouds meandered across the sky, the same birds migrated South, and the same wind kissed my then much younger cheek. Just last year, a developer came in and destroyed all the homes where I once lived. They also cut down all the trees including my tree. Today there are high dollar apartments and condominiums there. It's very hard to believe but if I go back, I can't find the spot where my tree once stood, let alone the house. The landscape has been totally transformed. It's dreadfully sad. I awoke to a sound. Something was tapping on the hull of my boat. At first, I was very concerned. Here I was in the middle of the lake away from all. I thought to myself, "What could this noise be?". I looked over the gunnels of my boat to find a friend. It was the duck I saw earlier now greeting me. I grabbed some crackers I had there in the boat and fed him just a few crumbs. After he gobbled up each and every bit, he swam back to his flock. Just then, I decided it was getting late. If I did not return to the ramp, I would be out on the water past dark. So, I reached for the motor. However, before pulling the chord, I took one last glance at the lake and her surroundings, closed my eyes, smelt the air and felt the now chilled breeze dancing atop the trees. Surely, this is one beautiful place, I thought. Like my old tree, Rocky Fork Lake has become my new place to lay back and enjoy natures call. But I wonder......Will progress one day spoil this nook too?
Skipper: Eric V. Stanson
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