I have never been much of a risk taker, preferring to make decisions based on how much bodily pain or parental
guilt will be involved. Yet, it seems that 2013 is not going to be a
year for the timid.
Most recently of note: I completed the
jib for our hand built sailboat. For those unfamiliar with sailing
terminology, ahem, like me – A jib is a triangular staysail
that sets ahead of the foremast
of a sailing
vessel . (thank you wikipedia.)
I was initially not on board (har har)
with making the sails for our boat. However, my husband pointed out
that after nearly three years of HAND BUILDING it just seemed wrong
to put a manufactured sail from the HAND BUILT mast. (I am capitalizing HAND BUILT/BUILDING as I am quite sure that is how it was
pronounced.) So it was with much trepidation that my twenty seven
year old Kenmore portable sewing machine and I took to the task.
The sail came in 6 pieces from a
company called Sailrite. They take great pride in their sail kits,
offering YouTube videos and detailed instruction, some of which is
HAND written on everything from using the non-spinning spool of thread
to attaching the sticker that proclaims to the world that you have
indeed made one of their sails.
Much to my surprise, the pieces went
together quite easily with only a couple of hitches, both involving
shoving pointy objects through or around four layers of sailcloth, a
quarter inch thick rope and -once- my husband's index finger. My
little Kenmore jugged right along and although Miss Galbrieth, my 7th
grade home-ec teacher, would not approve of the rather flimsy tension
of the thread in places, I think she would still be secretly
delighted. Miss Galbrieth was a single woman with a boyfriend, who
wore fashionable clothes and addressed us middle school girls as
fellow women. I concocted many a secret life for her in the two years
she was my instructor, secret life that were less than conformist.
Which brings me to the risk taking. As
I was finishing the last couple of seams I began to ponder just how
important this project was. Sure, the HAND MADE boat is important to
my husband for many reasons. To me it had always been an interesting
project which kept the garage simultaneously impossible to enter and
unbelievably clean except for the 15 foot boat in it. But lets face
it, I never really considered the implications of completion. I find
deep and meaningful thoughts more hilarious than insightful but as I
looked at the jib, a sail used to increase performance and decrease turbulence for the mainsail, it occurred to me that this piece of
fabric was the leading edge of opportunity to places yet to be
explored and a lifestyle I have only pretended to be living.
Of course, I still have the Main to
sew. Which gives me plenty of time to get my life insurance in
order...
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| Good to know this can double as my body bag... |
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| Our HAND BUILT sloop - Nancy's China DC from Devlin Boats (Their name, not ours. Our name will be much better.) |
