Wednesday, August 11, 2010

At last, at sea again

Today we cruised out into the Atlantic with Family on September Song to take Pete, Stephanie's Dad, to the place he loved so much to spread his ashes, the sea. (Pete died June 2008) How fitting that he should take his last cruise with family on a boat with the same name as his first boat. It was sad, but yet a happy day because we know Pete would have wanted it this way.
We committed the earthly remains of Gregory Peter Fitzpatrick. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
From water, all life arises.
Mother of waters, Father of rain,
you have taken back your own.
As a stream flows into a river,
as a river flows into the sea,
may his spirit flow to the waters of healing,
to the waters of rebirth.

SEA FEVER by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Smooth sailing Pete. We will see you on the waterways.

September Song, out


The ashes of Gregory Peter Fitzpatrick


Stephanie reading a poem called Sea Fever.

Roses on the water
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Monday, August 9, 2010

A dog gone good day

Sunday Justin, Elisa, George, Tyler, and Jacob came over and we all went out on September Song to the beach. It took us a long time to get there because Dad said the props were all barnacled up. When we got there Dad and Justin went into the water and cleaned the bottom and the running gear. (what's running gear?) Dad says she is so happy when she has a clean bottom. After we had lunch (well, they had lunch) and Dad and Justin got done cleaning the bottom, we all went to the beach. We had so much fun playing in the water with the boys. My stupid sister Cassie went over to an oyster bed and cut her foot. She didn't care, she still played. After we got done at the beach, the boys got Oreo cookies on the way home and we got stupid dog cookies. Sure wish I could have had one of those Oreo's. When we got back to the dock and Dad docked the boat (good job Dad!) we all went over to the house and played in the pool. I chased the ball and Cassie caught the same fish over and over. Mom and Dad; could you maybe buy us a little boy to play with. We sure had fun!
Dad and Mom have been getting the boat ready for Wednesday. Some relatives are coming and we are all going to cruise out into the ocean and put Grandpa Pete's ashes out there. Mom says Grandpa would have wanted it that way. Mom says he was a sailor and loved to race sailboats, cruise, and explore like we do. His first boats were named September Song because her Mom and Dad were married in September and September Song was their song. I think it is really cool that our boat's name is September Song! Grandpa Pete was a really cool guy (with really big feet) and told lots of stories about the old days. (some more than once) I think it will be a happy day because grandpa will be in a place he loved to be.
OK, gotta go. We are headed to the pool for our afternoon swim.

September Song Dog (a dog gone good day) out
Godiva


Our house is for sale. Can we still use the pool when it sells Dad?

Dad has been working hard on our boat. He wants it to look good for when we take Grandpa Pete's ashes out to sea on Wednesday.

That's my Dad. He sure looks funny with that thing on his face. Dad and Justin cleaned the bottom of our boat before we went to the beach.
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The boys liked watching the dolphins play around the boat.

That's George and Tyler ready to go to the beach.

That's George hunting fish with my sister Cassie
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We had so much fun at the beach!

Sure wish Mom and Dad would buy us one of these (kids) to play with.

On the way home after playing at the beach the kids got cookies. We got dog cookies. Sure wish I could have one of theirs.

Another end to a dog gone good day! When are you gonna get us a kid?
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