The Boat

This is a picture of me and Kennick in our little boat.  I know it is not fancy boat by any stretch of the imagination but the history that goes with the boat runs deep.  In fact, I am sure if you look back in the family photo albums you will see an almost identical picture 30 some years ago with me and my father.

Every summer growing up our family would take a vaction in central Minnesota at my mother's aunt and uncle; Lawrence and Nellvina Zicafoose.  This was orginally their boat and we would use it while we were there.  We would usually have to dig it out of the weeds when we got there and it got the majority of its yearly use the few summer days we were there.  This was the first boat that I learned how to captain and spent 100's of hours fishing in.  It isn't much of a boat but when you are a kid it was a beautiful yacht full of endless possibilities.

A few years ago the boat found it's home at my parents house after Lawrence and Nellvina had both passed away.  After that it finished off it's 950 mile jouney to central Kentucky were it was a house warming gift at our first house.  It had even received a complete overhaul from my parents and sister (when Bailey was about a foot shorter).

One weekend after Karalee and I were married we decided to take it to the lake and see how it would work.  We launched the boat in the lake and by the time that Karalee had returned to the boat dock from parking the car I had many blisters on my hands from trying to start it and had to row it back to shore.  Good thing we were already married because I don't think she would have picked the guy in the little row boat ;) 

This past 4th of July we launched it into Johnny and Kathy's pond to put out a duck house.  We gave all the kids a ride and it was nice to get back in and share another memory in it.  Hopefully someday Kennick and I will be able to take it out for a weekend get away and make some new memories.  Maybe even Kennick will take his kids out in it someday...