CHAPTER 6
Sunday, January 4th, 1987. What a party!
In a sense, this day, and this party, had been in the works for nearly forty years. Everything was perfect except for Denise’s painful struggle with her new full leg cast and the mental torture of saying goodbye, though temporarily, to a boat and its captain whom she had so come to love.
So many people were crowded onto the Ancient Mariner Restaurant docks I was concerned they would slowly sink, or break loose and float away. Champagne wasn’t hard to find and several departure gifts were serious, while most were ‘parting shots.’ My ex-wife, who had always felt I dreamt beyond my budget, was sloshing free champagne and advised Denise, “What a fool you are, going anywhere with Skip.”
Denise needed assistance swinging the christening bottle from her dockside position on crutches, but managed a bull’s-eye. Minutes later, those still lingering aboard returned to the dock, we cast off our lines, reversed slowly from the dock, made a smart pivot in Newport Harbor, and pointed our bow outbound. Thrilling!
An armada followed us through the harbor, yelling slurred wishes, giving charitable advice and occasionally mooning us. Fortunately, none of our well wishers collided with anchored boats or seawalls. It had been a fun, gratifying day. We dissolved into the dusk-beginning, at last to drift and blend.
Christening Invitation