Skipper Emily

I would definitely not consider myself an expert at sailing; after all, there is a lot to know, and although I know a lot of it, I still have more to learn. There is a point where you can only take so much instruction about how to do it, and once you have been taught enough on land, you just have to get out on the water and practice. Getting a feel for how the wind works, as well as how to adjust to it, is vital to the art of sailing. As an amateur, imagine my surprise this week when the opportunity came to teach a newbie!

We invited a couple from the staff at our church to come up to the lake with us. We took the 6-hour hike up to Conneaut Lake on Sunday afternoon, with Mr. and Mrs. Branson driving somewhere behind us (thank goodness they had their GPS).

Monday morning, we woke up to the beginning of a relatively calm lake day. The weather was genuinely pleasant: the sun provided a cozy warmth to the air, and the breeze was subtle but refreshing. However, while the sunshine was ideal, this breeze was not -- at least, not from a sailor's perspective. When I took Mrs. Branson out in the Sunfish, we moved relatively slowly for what seemed like an eternity. It was perfect for a learner like Mrs. Branson, since she needed the wind to be patient with her adjustments as she was simply a learning sailor, but it was hardly exciting out on the water at all. Of course, the worst part was when the wind just died altogether, leaving us stranded out on the open lake for several minutes at a time. When the breeze did pick up, it made our voyage a little more interesting.

The next day was entirely different. The wind was much stronger, almost too strong for a first-timer. Before we even set out onto the lake, I knew that it would be a much more eventful day for us than the day before had been! Even though Monday had been verging on boring, in a way I was thankful that the breeze had been so forgiving, for it gave Mrs. Branson a chance to figure out what exactly she was doing -- without tragic consquences. (A.k.a., capsizing... read on, please :)

Dad took Mr. Branson out in another Sunfish while Mrs. Branson and I set sail. Oh, how swiftly we glided across that water! Compared to Monday, this sailing day was much more invigorating. One time, when Mrs. Branson and I tacked (sailing term for basically changing course), we caught ourselves on the wrong side of the boat....and tipped over! Capsizing a Sunfish is completely normal; I even know people who like to do it for fun. Well, we tipped -- and laughed so hard at ourselves! But first I had to blink a couple of times to make sure my contacts were still where they rightfully belonged (in my eyes...which they were); then I had to swim over to the other side of the boat and put weight on the centerboard (it sticks out of the bottom of the boat to ensure that the boat stays on a relatively straight course).

Once our beloved Sunfish was returned to its former upright position, Mrs. Branson and I scrambled to get back onboard... and proceeded to laugh hysterically. If you had been there, I promise, you would have been laughing too. After I had caught my breath, I told Mrs. Branson, "Well, you've officially had the whole Sunfish sailing experience." And indeed she had.

Why I Love the Lake

My family is off to Conneaut Lake once again! We leave tomorrow afternoon. We were just up there around the 4th of July, at my favorite place in the world, which is tucked somewhere up in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania. I can't help but smile when I think about it, and all the memories we have made as we have spent our family vacations there.

Although every season at the lake is uniquely beautiful, summertime is undoubtedly my favorite. Everything there is just so alive. I love waking up to the clear blue sky in the morning, with the air still a bit brisk at 8 a.m., even in mid-July. I love that feeling of stepping out in my bare feet onto the cool grass, still fresh with dew, and making my way to the lake shore to feed the ducks -- who always appreciate my coming out to give them a snack of stale Italian bread.

By mid-morning, I've probably already taken advantage of the smooth early-morning water and gone for a ski. I might sit on the dock with a fishing pole in hand, trying to catch a blue gill or two, just for sport. (If I catch one, I throw it back, of course.) I then hurry to the front porch to grab the hammock from behind the porch swing, and I'll proceed to set it up between the post and the maple tree in the front yard. It will probably come in handy later that day for an afternoon nap.

By lunchtime, I say I'm starved! I've gone for a bike ride down at Lauderdale with my neighbor friends Katie and Miriam. We gobble down a few ham sandwiches and some Troyer Farms barbeque potato chips, and wash it all down with a glass or two of lemonade. Afterwards, we go tubing, if the waves are nice and choppy. Better yet, if the wind is ideal, we rig a Sunfish and set sail for a few hours at at time.

Late afternoon comes around, and my family goes for a relaxing cruise on our old pontoon boat. The lake breeze is light and comforting. Just as we return to shore, the sun is beginning to set, and I anticipate a glorious display of color on the horizon.

Soon multiple hues of amethyst and crimson, laced with a hint of gold, grace the sky with a level of splendor that makes me stare in absolute awe. Once the darkness of night finally sets in, we have already headed into the house for a game of Scrabble.

That, my friends, is your average day at Conneaut Lake.

Welcome To My Blog!

Since I have kept you all informed through the Centreville Times and then the Gainesville Gazette about what goes on in my life, I have decided to convert to blogging in order to keep you up to date even more efficiently. Sending out my newsletter takes up a lot of time and resources (paper, postage, etc.). This should be a fun way to keep you in the loop, and to keep myself writing! Enjoy!