The Abigail is Seaworthy

I live in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine.  One of the many hats my husband wears, is that of a lobster fisherman.   His lobster boat "The Abigail" is stored in a prominent place at our home for all who drive by to see. The detriment to that is the barrage of questions from townsfolk . . when is the boat going in?  ..is the boat in yet?  Are you not fishing this year?  

You see . . not much happens around here, and we're all kind of laid back (some more than others).  So a lobsterman's boat which gets launched late in the season, is a topic of conversation.  

Today was the big day.  I surprised my husband by being at the dock to wait the arrival of the big truck and trailer hauling his boat.  

backing down the boat ramp

For as many people that have discussed the boat being in or out of the water, you would think there would have been a big crowd.  Ironically, it was just me, Bill (hubby) a few seagulls, and the guy driving the truck. Of course we didn't make a big announcement that it was going in.  If we had... well, I'm sure it would have been standing room only.  

Getting closer to the water

 

Bill jumped out of the truck to climb aboard the boat

He's had this boat for a long time.  When he first got it, he didn't tell me it would be named after me.  He proudly showed me the lettering on the stern. My first thought was the letters were so big no one would need binoculars to read the name.  I felt the only thing missing were the neon lights around it.

My daughter,  (a teenager at the time) sensed my embarrassment and said to Bill with firmness . . "If you were going to name a boat after someone, you should have named it after someone who would appreciate it."  Evidently that was her.  I've gotten accustomed to the name and big letters over the years.  

I know this look, he's saying with his eyes - -
I know it's seaworthy, I'm sure there's not a problem, please pray 

Splash!  See the hand waving . . that's the signal all is well

Still waving, all is well!  The Abigail is seaworthy!  

As I was waiting for Bill to arrive at the dock, I enjoyed the quietness of the morning watching the rippling of the water, and the various birds.  I thought of our state slogan "Maine, the way life should be"..  I looked down at the skiffs tied to the dock and saw "Mike" painted across one of them (far right). I liked the simplicity of it.   

Bill's just a regular guy who grew up in this little community from birth and was raised by his grandparents. He has a typical Maine accent (I don't as I lived in Connecticut till I was 7).  On Sundays he hangs up his oilskins for a suit and tie, as he's the pastor of the church in the center of town.  

Not my typical blog post, but I thought you'd enjoy reading a little bit about my supporter behind "Little Birdie Blessings".  A man who helped me be the woman I am today. 

Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business on great waters;

They have seen the works of the Lord,

And His wonders in the deep.

Psalm 107:23-24