DeputyDan
Contributor
This Friday, July 21th, my family will be going to Bonaire with two other board members and their families - Herman and GypsyJim. As I begin to prepare for this opportunity, I could not help but reminisce back to my last trip there.
During that trip (in 2004), my group decided to dive at a northern dive site named Old Blue. When we arrived at the site, there was already a group of divers there. That group consisted of the parents and their kids. The parents appeared to be in their late 70's or early 80's and the kids in their 40's or 50's. The kids set up umbrellas and chairs with a cooler for the parents to watch the vehicles and other items while the kids dove. From our hellos and chit chat it was clear that they were from europe and probably Dutch.
We geared up and my kids had entered the water and were waiting on me while I was helping others in my group. As we were preparing to dive, the elderly gentleman asked me over to where he was. His single question to me was - How old is your youngest child. My answer to him was - my youngest child is 13 and the older child in 16.
He closed his eyes and I could tell his mind was far away in thought. After what was probably three minutes he opened his eyes and said to me - It must be wonderful to be 13 years old and be able to dive in Bonaire with your Dad!
I have always wondered where he had gone in his mind. Back to when he was 13 - Could he have been a child in europe during WWII, could he have been Hebrew, Was he thinking of my child's good fortune? I guess I will never know what he was thinking but I do know - - -
It is wonderful to be able to dive in Bonaire with your 13 year old and I am sure that it will be just as good when she is 15.
I also am thankful to God, that my children have not had to live through what so many others have had to endure (through no fault of their own throughout history).
Well so much for reminiscence - lets go diving and be thankful for the opportunity!!!
During that trip (in 2004), my group decided to dive at a northern dive site named Old Blue. When we arrived at the site, there was already a group of divers there. That group consisted of the parents and their kids. The parents appeared to be in their late 70's or early 80's and the kids in their 40's or 50's. The kids set up umbrellas and chairs with a cooler for the parents to watch the vehicles and other items while the kids dove. From our hellos and chit chat it was clear that they were from europe and probably Dutch.
We geared up and my kids had entered the water and were waiting on me while I was helping others in my group. As we were preparing to dive, the elderly gentleman asked me over to where he was. His single question to me was - How old is your youngest child. My answer to him was - my youngest child is 13 and the older child in 16.
He closed his eyes and I could tell his mind was far away in thought. After what was probably three minutes he opened his eyes and said to me - It must be wonderful to be 13 years old and be able to dive in Bonaire with your Dad!
I have always wondered where he had gone in his mind. Back to when he was 13 - Could he have been a child in europe during WWII, could he have been Hebrew, Was he thinking of my child's good fortune? I guess I will never know what he was thinking but I do know - - -
It is wonderful to be able to dive in Bonaire with your 13 year old and I am sure that it will be just as good when she is 15.
I also am thankful to God, that my children have not had to live through what so many others have had to endure (through no fault of their own throughout history).
Well so much for reminiscence - lets go diving and be thankful for the opportunity!!!
