A Touch of Class

If you know me, you know I am about as practical as a nickel in a piggy bank. In my world view, clothing protects me from the elements and from embarrassment. Consequently, I identify clothing in two categories: dirty clothes, which go into the hamper; and clean clothes, which come out of the drawer. And for the record, I do help with the laundry.

My daughters seem to think my fashion sense is something between a Depression-Era hobo and Robinson Crusoe. I think maybe they overly dramatize my propensity to opt for comfort over fashion.

None of that actually matters at this moment. The shirts that we had monogrammed for our public appearances are classic, comfortable, and acceptable for going out in public. Yes, my wife made the decisions, with strong hints, about style and color. I did, however, come up with the wording. I suppose that would stand to reason.

Anyway, we will be at the Oriental Boat Show April 21-23. Come out and see us there. I think we might even look better in person.

We may look like a wreck in the wind and sun, but we promise we do not bite. 

We Can't Seem to Channel Normal

I don't normally cross over purposes here. But this weekend has been filled with a lot of interesting personal experiences. It has been exhausting, unnerving, and actually even uplifting.

My wife and I run a small non-profit that builds and sends work boats to missionaries in third world countries. Mission Navigation is a tiny operation, as I have a day job building yachts for the rich and famous. So, I am essentially a weekend missionary, of sorts. We have sent one boat to a mission in Haiti, and a second, for the same mission, is nearing completion. We have been doing this as volunteers for about five years and feel led to work at it full time.

Normally, when someone begins to raise support to enter the mission field, they circulate within the safe confines of their church affiliates. Somehow we can't seem to channel normal.

This weekend we have begun promoting our mission and introducing ourselves, with the intention of raising support, at a boat show. Sounds innocuous enough. Except there are strangers everywhere. For a hard-wired introvert like me, that is exhausting. But it has been fascinating as well.

We have met some very crusty individuals who can't fathom the concept that our faith motivates us to labor for insignificant and forgotten people. We have had complete strangers affirm us. And we have met some genuinely nice, down-to-earth folks.

We have not asked anyone for money. We believe that is a private decision between an individual and God. But we have had a few people who acted alarmed that we would try to pressure them into giving. Evidently there was another non-profit up the way from us that was calling out to people to donate as they walked by. Personally, I thought that was tacky and a bit presumptuous, but I suppose it is effective.

One of the coolest things is, we have encountered people who seemed to be inspired by our mission work. I would not go so far as to say that I am an important part of someone's life, but that is pretty cool.

In all, it is has been exhausting. But it has been a great way to take some vacation time.