Sweet Sixteen

[Marlene Anne Sassaman]

In the words of Jackie Gleason, "How sweet it is."  Well, I think it was Jackie Gleason. Either way, it is pretty crazy wavering between the excitement of an unknown future and the fear of an unknown future. The minutes drag by while the days fly. With only 3 major boat tasks to do and 3 household items on the list, the common denominator of my paying attention to what is really important and not dwelling on things like dating, reality is making sleep difficult.

 For example, after work today I came home and took a nap. Then played catch up on our love life with one BF and colleague Amy. After an hour or so of chatting, I flirted with 15 different outfits to wear should I end up spending a very special holiday. Thankfully, my e-mail rang me into reality.

Now, rested at 7 pm its time to pack up those cute little china tea cups my mother-in-law bequeathed me. There are just some items that intrigue me like the yellow handled fork and knife set my dad used for cutting our dinner steaks and holiday turkeys. At least once a week we'd have a porterhouse steak that fed 5 with leftovers for sandwiches the next day. It was the advantage of being born to a butcher. I even have one of his sacred A&P aprons. 

When it comes to furniture there is the custom bedroom set we (Danny and I) had made to precision when living in New Hampshire. The fresh cut cherry wood has been aging from a pale maple to the rich red hue that no stain can replicate. While I may eventually give it up, well that's a private matter so let's move on to my professional office furniture.

Sure it is metal base with some type of plastic top and facing. It has the color of cherry wood so it favors my two cherry end tables, teak coffee table with matching teak captain's chairs. Lest I forget the corner chair and wooden rocker Helen bequeathed me. And, oh yea there is also the mahogany rocker sister Jane sent me from Costa Rica, and the mahogny vase that was found buried amongst clothes in mom's closet.

Of course, there are assorted paintings by family and friends, my cowboy heroes' photographs, and the infamous WWII poster of the cute gal dressed in a sailor suit asserting she wished she was a man so she could join the Navy. What a reminder of dad's suggestion to "Stay away from Sailors." Well, if you remember my last blog about irreverance than you its no surprise that there is a new sailor on the horizon.......

All this rhetoric does make it seem like Sweet Sixteen. Except way back than I was incredibly shy, unliked by peers, and spent way too much time chasing boys. Thankfully, I discovered sailing in 1976 or so. Since then its been anchors aweigh. Yipe it is conceivable that in 16 days I'll be ready to set sail. OMG, I gotta get off this blog.............