Don't die without having a dock.

I have a good friend who always says, don't die without having a dock. Never having a dock in my whole life, or being on one, I just didn't understand this. After this weekend, I totally get this. The whole family went down to visit my mom who was visiting at my brothers house. Once we got there, we went down to a reservoir and went out on my dad and brother's boats. My kids got to go innertubing for the first time ever.

Now that was an adventure in itself. When we got there, my kids went down to the launch and I said I would be there in a second, I needed to hit the potty first. When I got back, they had already taken off with my brother. AAAAHHHH!!! So I went into my dad's boat and we met them out there. First adventure: me, all of me, climbing from one boat to another. Not a pretty sight, but I did it. The kids were already on the innertube which is a three seater deal with handles. My thrill seeker and my boy were on with their cousin who is a veteran tuber and as soon as I was on, we took off. Once we got the hand signals figured out they did pretty good. When it was time to trade place, we pulled them in and the boy looked a little green. Lets just say, it wasn't his cup of tea. So then a little bit of sibling rivalry kicked in and my cautious child got on. Now I thought for sure she wouldn't go on after her roller coaster experience. But on she went. My brother took it pretty easy and she kept asking for more speed. Soon she was bouncing around, no problem. I was shocked and pleasantly amazed. Then my new adult got on and if she smiled any bigger, her face would have broke. My husband can't swim. Not that he doesn't want to or hasn't tried for his whole life, but something about his physiology just won't let this poor man stay on top of the water. But he is the best father in the whole wide world. When baby girl said she wanted to try, he put on a life vest and on he climbed. My heart was so full watching them out on that thing. Both of them really enjoyed themselves. After their turn we went back in for lunch.

Here is where I had my second adventure. Instead of going back to the launch, they moored next to the picnic sight. Where there is no dock. Where you have to climb out of the boat and walk in the water. For those of you who don't know, I have this thing about lake water. I don't do lake water. It is just gross. So yeah, not my idea of cool. Well the other thing was, how was I going to get my big self out of the boat with any kind of dignity. Let's just say, it didn't happen. My dear sweet husband tried to help. That didn't really happen either. I got one foot on the ground and it was all slimy and slippery down there. As I tried to lift my other foot out of the boat, my sweetheart was pulling me out. My already out foot was sliding down the cement ground below and the inside foot was refusing to leave. Well, lets just say there was a really big splash and somewhere on the bottom of the reservoir is my favorite pair of sunglasses. To paraphrase Monk "Lake in my shoes!" I was so grossed out! And would you believe no showers anywhere in that park! I had to just sit there and let lake water dry on me. So sad.

After lunch, we went back out and I had to get back in the water again. Getting in was a bit easier, no plunging. The kids did some solo riding. When the Bear was out, she wanted faster and bumpier. Her sister was doing flag duty and turned to me and said "she has some serious thrill issues dude." Yup. Her cheeks were so sore that night. Then all three of my little girls got on together. I wish I had the camera, but I didn't want to drop it in the water in case I fell in again so my new adult had it on the other boat. They are hooked for sure. Guess who wants a boat and intertube.

Which brings me back the what my friend said. Don't die without a dock. My brother and I got a chance to talk while the kids were whipping around. He said that the reason he got the boat instead of quads is because it was something they could do as a family and talk and visit and enjoy together not just next to each other. And that is the experience we had. We visited with each other. We played with each other. We learned about each other. We became a little bit closer. When we visited our friend on the lake with the dock, we experienced peace and happiness and joy. When we played on the toys off the dock with my family this week, we experienced joy and excitement and bonding.

Not that he has ever been wrong the whole time I've known him, but Brad is right. Don't die with out a dock. I can't wait to have our own.