As we ride out to the lake, I have great conversations with my dad about the things going on in the world today. Launching the boat and heading out onto the water I am realizing that the water is very rough on this windy day. I am on the back deck of our boat tightening up the bindings on my favorite wake board as I stall before taking the icy plunge into the freezing water. I am standing on the sand at the lake and Danielle is showing me how to strap into my sandals on the new wake board dad promises to buy if I can learn to ride the board today. We go out into the water together and she holds the board steady as I stand on it to get a feel. I only weigh 48 pounds in my wet swimsuit, but today I get up on my first try in the open water. As soon as I hit the water I tell dad to pull me up as quickly as possible my legs are going numb. I ride many times and as we load the boat and I park it near the launch, I hear ducks quacking on the edge of the water and freeze watching them. I am sitting next to my grandmother as she rests in her wheelchair, we sit for hours in the courtyard of the nursing home and watch the ducks as they swim and quack at each other. They get out and sit on the bank, I wonder how many more times I will be able to sit with my grandmother. I continue on with unloading as I wonder how many more times I will be able to come out with my dad before it is time for me to go off to college.
Today is the first trip of the summer to the lake and although a very exciting day, I realize how things in my life continue to change. I feel anxiety about going to college and leaving everything behind that I know and love. We arrive back at the boat storage and I walk among the boats. I am walking among the boats and dripping sweat, I hold the clip board with the tags I am making on it. Mr. Free walks in and I explain to him all the work I have done. Suddenly it strikes me that he really doesn't care what I have done, I am just another summer employee. I feel so much respect for him as he is my first boss and has taught me so much about life and working. I shut the door to the boat house and climb in the car with dad. We are discussing the day at the lake when Mr. Free drives by. I zone out of the conversation with dad as I am pondering asking him for a job for this summer. I am too scared to ask him, because of asking too much from a man I never want to disappoint. We drive away and discuss what is going on in the world again.
