Like so many things, security is an invisible asset. When we have it, it empowers us to go boldly, to take chances that actually endanger it. But when it is threatened, or worse, gone, you realize how vulnerable you are without it, how vigorously you will work to get it back. I realized this lesson the summer after my junior year, on the Kelly Celebration Cruise.
My family is the typical nuclear family. Mom, Dad, four brothers; that dynamic changed suddenly, however, on April 16th, 2006. My incredibly strong, healthy and seemingly unstoppable father became very suddenly ill. During those first few days, we heard words like cancer and chemotherapy. My mother and brothers tried to adjust to the news and the obvious changes it would be bring. My father, on the other hand, decided to plan the perfect family vacation.
He called it the Kelly Celebration Cruise and he scheduled it for one month after the day his chemo was to end. He planned a week in a houseboat on a beautiful lake in Tennessee and talked daily about all the amazing things we would do. My brothers and I were so excited, we hardly noticed as he got weaker and more ill. Because no matter how bad he felt, he could still sit in his chair and talk about all the fun we would have.
My father never completed his treatment. As his cancer spread, he became more and more ill and on March 16th, 2007, he passed away. I felt like all the breathable air had been sucked out of the universe. I felt lost; alone and drifting through days of funeral services and visitations. Everything seemed cloudy and dreamlike and I wondered how my family would survive.
My Mom and four brothers assumed the Kelly Celebration Cruise was now cancelled. The trip would be too scary without Dad there to make sure we were safe. I disagreed. I started a campaign to convince my Mom that we could still go, that in fact, we should still go. It was my father’s dream to play Riverboat Captain with his sons as his crew. I wanted the dream to happen. So on the day before Memorial Day 2007 we headed to Tennessee in my Mom’s minivan.
The houseboat rental company did an amazing job training us how to operate the 65-foot house on floats. Mom was nervous, but my brothers and I learned quickly how to run the generator, operate the bilge and navigate shallow waters. The lake is purposely undeveloped, so it was easy to believe we were cruising down a river from 100 years ago, completely isolated. I felt like a member of a crew, working when I needed to, then playing when the work was done. Our days were filled with adventure, swimming, skiing and exploring isolated islands where we found abandoned campsites and even wild animals. In a world that had suddenly turned upside down, we found a peaceful paradise where fun and laughter came as easy as the sunset.
We rediscovered our sense of security with every completed task that week. We reconnected as a family with every finished game. And every night, as we tied up to a tree and shut off the generator, we remembered my Dad and said Thank You for the wonderful trip. We left Columbia scared that we would encounter obstacles and not know what to do; we returned with the knowledge that as a family, we can do anything. I know my Dad’s dream was not exactly what it was supposed to be, but I know in my heart that my father would be proud of his crew for finishing the task he started.
Ryan Kelly of Cayce, South Carolina won Honorable Mention for this essay.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “The River Captain”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I love you, CJ!!
Thank you for sharing with us, I think this website truly stands out : D.
I will right away snatch your rss feed as I can not in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me realize so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
Saved as a favorite, I love your blog!
Hello There. I found your weblog the usage of msn. That is an extremely neatly written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.
Great job on this post! Kudos to the writer for delivering such a top-notch piece!
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up
plus the rest of the site is also really good.
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate!
He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him.
Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest
but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later.
All the best
I loved Japan before I visited there– loved their video games, TV shows, martial arts, and amazing sword fights. But my only contact with Japan was through the Internet. Reading Japanese comic books (Manga) and watching Japanese cartoons (Anime) are my favorite pastime. So on Christmas day, when my parents gave me a book about Japanese culture, I was happy. When I opened the book and discovered the plane tickets inside, I was ecstatic.
In preparation for the trip, we took Japanese language lessons from a private tutor. By the time the trip rolled around I was eager to practice my new skills.
After landing in Narita airport, our first stop was the Zen Bed and Breakfast in Asakusa, Tokyo. My formal Japanese greeting impressed the owners. In the mornings, we had breakfast with them. I had never had rice and soup for breakfast before. Being a very picky eater, I rarely try anything new. But in Japan, I was determined to try everything. These home cooked breakfasts were the best meals we had on our trip.
Very good article! We are linking to this great post on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
Nice!
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Awesome post.
Hi there! I just want to give you a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here
on this post. I will be coming back to your
web site for more soon.
The article on My Family Travels about Galveston being a great destination for family reunions is informative and inspiring. It highlights the various attractions and activities in Galveston that make it an ideal choice for bringing families together. From the beautiful beaches and historic sites to the family-friendly accommodations and dining options, Galveston offers something for everyone. The article also provides practical tips and suggestions for planning a successful family reunion, including recommendations for group activities and accommodations. The personal anecdotes and experiences shared by the author add a relatable touch and make the article engaging to read. If you’re considering organizing a family reunion, this article will certainly give you valuable insights and ideas for creating memorable moments with your loved ones in Galveston.
Great post.
I read this piece of writing fully about the difference of most recent
and previous technologies, it’s awesome article.
Excellent post – thank you – there is a lot to digest. We did the Alsace tour last year, which was fantastic, to tour the Rhine too. It is stunning in summer, which I hadn’t anticipated – I’ve always seen it in photos, beautiful in winter with the snow all around.
Great article. I took some ideas for a trip to Cambodia.
I always admire reading high-quality content, which I discovered in your post. I am quite grateful for this post.
I would also recommend other Kids friendly vacation safaris in Africa so that you can explore more areas
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks
Awsome! Thank you for sharing.
A cruise like this is fantastic, taking in many beautiful ports and coasts, but what it misses, is the vast amount of country and culture that is further inland. While the coastal areas of Europe are stunning, a family would be missing out on a lot of experiences further inland, like Toulouse, lakes of Croatia and many more
Thankyou for this terrific post, I am glad I observed this website on yahoo.
We absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to
be exactly I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for you?
I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write regarding here.
Again, awesome web log!
Respect to post author, some fantastic information
Do you have any video of that? I’d love to find out more details.
Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo
News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thanks
bookmarked!!, I like yor website!
When we travel on road trips, getting our cars maintained is always our top priority! It’s never predictable what’s going to happen on the road once our car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. It was a very informative read, as well as the tips that followed!
If you make it out to Key West, definitely try to eat at El Siboney Restaurant. They have delicious, authentic Cuban food. Would highly recommend.
Good information. Lucky me I recently found your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
I have saved as a favorite for later!
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and
detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog
every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material.
Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and
I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Morocco is a colorfull country and there are many things to see and do.
This topic is very helpful. Exactly what I was looking for
What’s up, after reading this awesome article i am also delighted to share my familiarity here with mates.
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was searching for!
Wohh exactly what I was looking for, appreciate it for posting.
Hi there, I discovered your website by means of Google while searching for a similar matter, your web site got here up, it looks good.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just changed into aware of your weblog thru Google, and found that it is really informative.
I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate in case you proceed this in future.
Lots of other folks will probably be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!