Dear Reese,
Some day, I would like to take you to Tall Ships in Sturgeon Bay. They should return when you are old enough to experience it. The Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of an 1812 topsail schooner, was incredible — but not at all toddler-friendly.
Your Aunt Jenn, Cara, Linden, and I go on a two-hour sailway excursion today. We wander the deck and watch them hoist and furl the sails (three out of five huge sails — when all are up, they cover 9,000 square feet). It’s the kind of trip that sets fire to the imagination. Linden has a passion for ships, and their sailing knowledge (and excitement) brings more joy to the journey.
When we check in, the woman (a local business owner whose shop has crystals and stones) thinks we’d be the kind of party who’d be interested in something special: a small stone that we can throw into the bay at the right moment, releasing what we needed to release with it. She picks out one for each of us and hands me a green adventuring stone.
While we sail, I rub the stone over my heart and find a mantra: For a life of adventure, filled with family and love, protected by the bay. May I remember that what is meant to be, will be.
The four of us toss our stones into the water together.
Love,
Mama