I have started this post about 6 times and I keep deleting everything I write. So instead of crafting the perfect post I’m just going to make statements.
Duane taught me A LOT. And despite how I felt about being stuck in an engine room for days covered in oil and grease, or sitting in freezing cold water learning to jump, covered in mud under my dirt bike or under the hood of a car “figuring it out”, I am now more thankful for all those lessons than I can even begin to explain.
For Bentley’s birthday she wanted an alone picnic day on the boat; to tube and eat deli sandwiches. My parents and I took her out for a few hours. Once we got out I asked her if she wanted to learn to wakeboard, after her initial fear she agreed. All of a sudden it a came back … the instructions that Duane had given to dozens of people, the way he put them on the swim platform and pulled them up, the way he spent time with me and so many other people teaching us something that he loved. We practiced that way a few times and then I hopped in the water with her and we gave it a whirl. Up she went!!! She got up a few times and fell immediately – I corrected her and then she rode. And then she fell. And immediately without thinking, the words that I have heard Duane say so many times flew out of my mouth, “Why did you fall? What did you do wrong?” She turned around looked at me and said “My butt was out!” YES!!! She gets it! She tried again and she rode. I was so proud of her.
In that moment I knew that everything we went through was worth it. I have been given a wealth of knowledge, things I never thought were important and here I am using them! Thank you Duane. I love you!
– xoxo Victoria
P.S. THIS IS NOT A JOKE … As I was writing this my iTunes opened by itself and started playing Just Fishin’ by Trace Adkins.
She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still
Talkin’ ’bout her ballet shoes and training wheels
And her kittens
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
She says, “I know. I think I’ve got a bite”
And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’ dyin’ here inside’s
Is what I call, livin’
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ’bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
Gonna drive the boys all crazy
Give her daddy fits
And I better do this every chance I get
‘Cause time is tickin’
(Yeah it is)
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ’bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
Yeah, aw, she thinks we’re just fishin’
We ain’t only fishin’
(This ain’t about fishin’)
THIS IS ALS 