“I don’t want that boat on my docks!…” Yelled an old man from the shore. I did my best to befriend the man and share our story hoping he would allow us to stay at that extremely important harbor, but it was no use, we had to move.
Why was this harbor so important? well, our one hour visit turned out to be about one week. On a routine check up, I realized our secondary filter was badly clogged. We had to wait for a filter housing unit to come in the mail. During the week, we realized the geographic location of port Jefferson and it’s waves, was damaging the boat. We had to move Aleph Tav as fast as possible, before the waves and the dock damaged her any further.
Rich came running out of bed to help us. For two hours, we motored in pitch darkness, looking for a safe harbor. The waves in the Sound were very high and unpredictable, rocking us in every direction. On the chart plotter we could see a well protected cove with a very narrow entrance; a simple passage to navigate during the day, but nearly impossible in complete darkness. Rich frantically shone a spotlight in every direction… We could see nothing… I knew we were several feet from land according to the plotter, but without a visual, it was very difficult to steer and throttle the boat.
Suddenly, right there in front of us, on our port and starboard, about twenty feet apart, sandoons… It was the narrow entrance to a very save harbor. The only safe harbor for miles… There again we went on our round-and-round-she-goes docking attempt, till finally I was on the dock having a tug-a-war with Rich who was pulling as hard as he could. All of a sudden Aleph Tav started moving very fast toward me as I was almost pulled off the dock. Lisa, with her teeth showing, pony tale flailing straight up in the air, yanked on that rope… “I-AM-NOT-DRIVING-THIS-THING-IN-CIRCLES-A-GAIN!!!” She growled as the boat quickly came toward the dock at her every syllable…
We were delighted to have found that place. At this time of the year there is little or no activity on marinas, so I was surprised to see a man telling us we could not stay there. Making matters worse, there was a report of a blizzard coming with 50 mile an hour gusts and zero degree temperatures. Where could we possibly go?…
Frustrated, disappointed, and exhausted, I pondered: “How on earth are we suppose to do this…” I scanned the small safe harbor wondering where I could bring Aleph Tav with her priceless Torah cargo when I noticed a beautiful sail yacht docked near us… Intrigued to see another boat in the water at this time of the year, I looked to see what the vessel’s name was. “Mustard Seed”… I smiled and shook my head…
I remembered the words Angie emailed to us a few days back; Angie is a Haitian lady who comes to our congregation, and has been following this journey with eager excitement. “G-d never said this journey was going to be easy, but He promised it will be worth it and He will be with you every step of the way…”
As if I was having a pointless argument with myself, I said: “I know!!!! I know!!! Faith… as a mustard seed… You are with us at every step… but I still have no idea where the heck I am going to put Aleph Tav with Your Torah, and now a blizzard is coming!!!!”
A clarification came to me: “It is not ‘heck’, it is Hell… But that is on the next leg of the journey. Let’s get through today.”
Rich and I began looking for marinas in that harbor hoping some one would receive us. They felt for us, but were concerned that the weight of Aleph Tav would damage their docks in the storm, so they turned us away.
Finally, we could not believe it; a fancy yacht club, of all places not only welcomed us, but placed us at the very end of their docks where they fuel up passing yachts. They were very kind, and even invited us to join them for their New Years celebration. Then it dawned on me, the name of this yacht club; “Mount Sinai”
We enjoyed an amazing week of rest with Rich and Diane chauffeuring us around, while our 22 year old son Andre was going through his own incredible journey from Stein Hatchee, Florida to Long Island in order to join and sail with us the rest of the way. Let’s just say that he was able to board a plane without a normal boarding pass in the middle of a blizzard when all flights were canceled…
Comfy and cozy, we cuddled in Rich and Diane’s plush couch as the coal cracked in the blazing coal stove. We were all set for the blizzard that had already started when the door bell rang… Who on earth would be out there at this time of night, in the middle of a blizzard?…
Rich answered the door… It was some one who came just to see me… I know… I have that effect on people 🙂
Who could it be?…
To be continued
Praise Adonai! I was able to fly out of Chicago to Seattle Monday via Standby on 1 of the 6 flights that were actually flying out of that airport during the BIG Arctic Storm!!! When Adonai wants us to get somewhere, He makes a way. Baruch Hashem!
You’re right. Osama certainly does his utosmt to promote jihad as Muslim Americans preach that theirs is a “religion of peace”. Why don’t they speak out against jihad, why don’t they help Haiti, why don’t they donate a portion of their vast sums of tax-free money for better airport screening equipment? And if our government is so hell-bent on confiscating tax dollars, why are they still allowing immigrants to operate each NEW business they open, tax-free for a period of FIVE YEARS?? I’d love that treatment, wouldn’t you? That’s why there are so many motels, gas-station’s and other businesses owned by people from the middle east. They buy a business, profit from it tax-free for 5 years, sell it to Uncle Ahmed and buy cousin Jalal’s business that he’s owned for 5 years, and on and on it goes into infinity. Meanwhile, we pay stiff penalties if we don’t pay our high taxes on time, our $$ is confiscated to give to countries like the Socialist Hatian Hole, we outgive everyone on the planet as most other countries give a mere pittance. Nice. I’m so worried about what the rest of the world thinks of us, aren’t you? You gotta give Osama credit though, he’s a brilliant man. No better way to make American leaders bow their head in shame than to say we are enemies of the planet! An apologist like Obama MUST pass Cap and Trade now!