Family news from December 2001

Staying in touch with family and old friends when cruising in distant places can be challenging. Sometimes you just need a FIX, and I did in December. Doug stayed with Limerence in Panama City and tended to boat jobs while I flew back to the States. I took an early morning flight out of Panama City and after stops in Miami and Chicago, arrived in Milwaukee Wisconsin to visit my son Scott Allen and his family.

Scott and Barbara recently settled into a beautiful new home in Mequon, a suburb of Milwaukee. It is a lovely rambling cape cod on a wooded lot, complete with deer wandering through the backyard every morning. Grandson Nicholas is five years old. He is delightful. On Sunday he rode Dad’s shoulders as we toured the newly renovated Milwaukee Art Museum. Playing hooky on Monday and Tuesday from daycare school, Nick and I explored the Milwaukee Zoo, and a local park.   It was a busy visit and I enjoyed getting caught up with the details of my kid’s hectic jobs and lives.  A highlight for me was helping the family select and decorate their huge natural Christmas tree. The traditions of Christmas are something I miss and being with Scott, Barb, and little Nicky was very special.

Even though time was short, I joined our great friends Dick and Kathy Osborne in their snazzy condo for dinner one night. Dick is retiring soon, and perhaps the four of us will meet more often in exotic places. We reminisced over wine about all the things we have shared in our friendship of twenty years.

Next stop was Fort Myers Florida to see son Jason and his wife Debra. They have a darling new home on a lake in a subdivision. Their neighborhood is so perfect we joked that it is like “Pleasantville”. They treated me royally with an evening out seeing the musical play “Best Little Whorehouse in the West” with Anne Margaret. I got a tour of the Fort Myers area, and met Jason’s coworkers at the Trane Corporation where he is a sales engineer. Deb and Jason’s golden lab, Cassie, is their baby and the center of attention in the Allen home!

I expected to return to Panama City after the ten-day trip to see my sons, but received a sad call from my Mother on December Fifth – Wednesday. My Father, Jack Athey, who had suffered for many years with Parkinson’s disease, had taken a turn for the worse and passed away that evening. My parents live in Georgetown South Carolina, a picturesque town just south of Myrtle Beach. I made arrangements to join my Mother within a few days for my Dad’s funeral. My sister Dianne came from New York City, and my brother John flew in from San Francisco. Dad’s sister Gloria came from Akron Ohio, and niece Pat from Atlanta, in addition to many friends at the funeral.  It was fortunate that I happened to be in the United States when Dad died. I stayed on with Mother for another week and helped her with the many decisions to be made. She was well prepared, but Father’s death still seemed sudden and she continues to struggle with the changes. They had been married for 57 years.

Pat, John, and Gloria	John, Mother, and Dianne

Cruising involves lots of challenges, and family needs and health issues are always presenting themselves. It is important to get the boat to locations were it can be left safely if travel becomes necessary. Because it was the rainy season in Panama, Doug elected to stay aboard while I flew home to the States. In the three weeks I was gone, Doug had many service jobs done on Limerence. He had the boat hauled out for five days and the bottom sanded and painted. He also had the fuel tanks cleaned and refueled among many countless other jobs. He also experienced a dramatic situation.

Limerence was docked with three others boats on a floating pier behind the breakwater of the Flamenco Marina. One afternoon the skies blackened with the threat of a huge rainstorm, and suddenly the winds gusted to over 40 knots. In the tremendous surge, the dock broke free of its mooring tether and started drifting toward the rocks of the breakwater dragging the four tied boats along with it!! Doug was on board and had seconds to get the engine started, throw off the lines, and set Limerence free. Dockworkers rushed in powerboats to the pier and worked to secure it. For nearly an hour the storm raged as Doug held Limerence in position away from other moored boats violently tugging and stretching at their lines. There were several large motor yachts jockeying for position inside the breakwater and they all waltzed back and forth trying to keep distance from each other in the waves and wind. The storm subsided and no damage was done. All was normal by evening. Talk about dragging your anchor. . . this time the dock dragged him!

December went quickly and suddenly we were planning our transit of the Canal. It is a relief that the rainy season has finally ended, and the skies sunny all day. The local people say this year was the longest rainy season in memory, lasting into mid-January. We have a long spring cruising season to look forward to until the hurricane season begins in June.

Fair winds friends, Doug and Judy

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