Young hands

I was thinking that we really didn't do much this weekend, sailed around some, spent a couple of nights on the hook, enjoyed good food and the company of friends. And you know, that is actually a weekend full.

We did have guests on board; an expat Doctor from China and his daughter. John had a interesting story to tell of growing up in Beijing (where much of his family still lives) and finding his way to the US. He visits China now but has no plans of moving back. His daughter, Emily, was born in the US and will have the benefit of two cultures in her personal history. They speak Chinese in their home and visit family regularly, spending a couple of months each summer in the "Old Country." (And when one is talking of China, one is talking of a truly "Old Country.")

Though this was their first time on a sailboat Emily asked if she could take a turn at the wheel, certainly the youngest hands (not counting 6 month old Christopher) Nomad has ever had on her helm. With just a few minutes of coaching Emily looked completely at ease, holding the bow tight to the wind, occasionally falling away a bit to catch the shifting breeze or steer around traffic. Her Dad beamed with pride.

In addition to Emily two young ladies from the marina were also along for the ride, the number of teen aged girls equalling the number of adults in the crew. It was certainly Nomad's "chattiest" sail to date. I am a once-upon-a-time father of 3 teen-aged girls but most of what I overheard made absolutely no sense to me. They could have been gabbing in Chinese. Clearly I am far, far out of the loop when it comes to American "teen-speak" these days! It was fun though. When we dropped the hook just outside of the marina for a little swimming the girls turned Nomad's bow into a diving (well, jumping) platform. Soon they were giving out scores for form, entry and splash.

Rumor has it I am not that fond of most children most of the time. There is not much occasion for me to be around young people and I can't say that bothers me much. (Unless you count the grand kids.) I hear the same complaints about American youth as you, too much TV, too many video games, no incentive, a sense of entitlement they haven't earned, not willing to work hard, no respect. (I believe much the same things were said about us when we were young, though in my case they probably had a point!) But these young ladies were poised, gracious, polite and enthusiastic. They are all straight A students, talked of a future of being doctors, one would be off to horse camp by the end of the day, one would be off to China a few days after that. Given the current state of the world it is tempting to think we will all be in better hands when the likes of these young people take over... and the sooner the better.