We first heard of Heart of Sailing three years ago, from a local paper. The organization “introduces sailing to children and adults with developmental disabilities as a form of education and recreational therapy”: Sailing?, we thought. Water, boats.....yes for Charlie! And, therefore, us.

That was in 2006 when we went on our first sail; we also went on a second one in 2007. I was the only one with a camera on the second sail and took photos of all the kids getting their Heart of Sailing medals and certificates---and I still haven’t emailed them! Right after we did that second sail we had a rather fast and turbulent move out of my in-laws’ house to our current apartment. I think I still have the photos in an email account but the cellphone that I took them with ended up in the ocean a week later (I was trying to take a photo of Charlie). And I lost the piece of paper with the other families’ emails.

Recently (happily) I found the piece of paper. And yesterday, August 14, 2009--a beautiful day, a glorious day with a spectacular sky---we went for our third sail with Bernardette and Jack Haley and our longtime friend, the great Hal Borden.

(Note what object(s) is(are) missing by the end of the photos........)

All aboard!

We gotta learn to sail.

Charlie and his pal Hal.

Charlie & Jim climb into the bow.

What it’s all about.

Charlie takes the rudder.

Nothing beats being on the water.

Charlie getting his Heart of Sailing medal & certificate.

Many many thanks to Bernadette & Jack---we had a splendid time!