approaching holiday has me reminiscing

As the Memorial Day holiday weekend approaches I have seen some great articles and programs on the remarkable men {and women} who have given so much to insure the liberty and freedoms that we have in this great nation.

My father was one who served, and among my treasures are his 2 overseas service medals and a purple heart. Amazing to me was that he got the second overseas medal AFTER he got the purple heart.

I have been asked many times about my passion for coins with ship themes, and I think that it goes way back to my dad. Of all my father's passions his greatest had to be the water and fishing. I have had the great fortune to have lived most of my life in Maryland. Besides being on the Atlantic Ocean {the worlds largest ocean} I live 5 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay {the largest bay/estuary in the western hemisphere} and the Potomac River {longest river on the east coast}.

Easily the fondest memories of my childhood are those weekends in the spring through fall when my dad would pack up his fishing gear and we would head out for an over-nighter to one of his many fishing spots. His favorite was always Point Lookout- which used to be a civil war prison camp that had an outbreak of bubonic plaque and was burned to the ground-along with all of the soldiers.Point Lookout is now a state park and still has an out of time feel to it..and of course there are the legends of the hauntings... Located at the wide mouth of the Potomac where it dumps into the Chesapeake, often I would see large ships passing by out in the channel...and just as kids may gaze at an airplane far above and wonder where it was going and came from, I would have thoughts of great voyages across the ocean...whales, storms, and exotic far away lands. Sometimes on these fishing excursions we would stop to visit historical places on the way...Ft McHenry in the Baltimore harbor {where the star spangled banner was written}..Dr Mudd's house...St Mary's City where the Ships the Ark and The Dove arrived in 1632 with Lord Calvert and established the first Maryland colony..and many others.

As I grew older and my parents finances improved my dad bought a small boat. Great for the rivers and the bay on calm days, that boat stirred in me something that still burns today. I love standing behind the wheel of my modest boat...running it full tilt...and the wind whipping across my face...grinning like a little kid. Sometimes I can never be sure if the tears streaming from my eyes are from the force of the wind or pure joy from the feeling of freedom my spirit feels.

I love the romantic ideal of those giant wooden ships creaking in the waves, whether for exploration of the unknown, carrying settlers to promises of a better life, or even pirates drinking their rum and heading to a tropical island to stash their ill-gotten fortune.

How cool is it that two things that I have a passion for...sailing /ships/waters and numismatics can be enjoyed together as I continue to build my High Seas signature set. It was my mother who gave me her old mercury dimes and buffalo nickels--none rare or valuable---that fascinated me and hooked me on the beauty and artistry of coins. However my greatest love is being out on the water with no land in sight and just shutting everything off and listening....

It has been almost 8 years since my father passed and I would love nothing more than to spend a quiet day with him..with very few words spoken..as comfortable fishing companions do. I have only visited his grave a few times, I know he would prefer that my mom, 3 sisters and myself spend our time with thoughts of living. However, on Monday I will get up early and go place a flag and a photo I have of the 50 pound yellowfin I caught last month on a charter trip at his grave. Then to honor his wishes and the legacy he left me, I will hurry home...hook up the boat..and get out on the bay....