Peg Maffitt
It was Summer 2006, and I was heading into Burlington, Vermont, on Rte 7 when I passed a woman’s clothing store, Lady Shelburne. In the parking lot was a beautiful old wooden boat on a trailer, with a for sale sign on it. Somehow my car turned into that lot all by itself. I got out and walked around the boat.
I noticed a phone number on the For Sale sign. I thought, Why not give it a call, just for the hell of it? So I did. I asked how much they were asking. He said that he lived five minutes away, and he would I come down.
He arrived a few minutes later, a 30-something man with a nice smile. He told me the price of $2,000. That included this gorgeous boat, motor and trailer. I asked if I could climb into it. YES! I stepped on the wheel cover and pulled myself in. There I was sitting in the driver’s seat of one of the most special boats I had ever been in. My heart was pounding.
I asked the man, “How do I look in her?” He laughed and replied “BEAUTIFUL!” And I felt that way. I told him I was interested but wanted to talk with my husband and would call him tomorrow, hopefully with an offer.
Back in my car, still in the parking lot, I called my husband, Tom, still at work. I said, “I think I found my perfect boat, and the owner said I looked beautiful in it.” He laughed at that, and said, “An old wooden boat could costs a lot to maintain.”
My face fell along with my heart. I asked him to drive by it on his way home. He did and we discussed over dinner. He was still not sold that this would be a good idea.
I wasn’t happy the next morning when I kissed my practical husband good bye as he left for the office. About a half hour later Tom called, “Peg, you never question any of my expenses regarding my photography hobby. If you love this boat, then let’s buy it. I’m all in!” Now I was happy!
It was the best $2,000 we have ever spent! Tom was right. Maintenance has cost us over the years. But it’s worth it.
Every time I get into her and motor out onto Lake Champlain, no matter whether it is in the morning, with an egg sandwich in hand, crossing the lake for lunch in New York, sipping a toddy in the evening, cruising to one our favorite restaurants, or pulling Katie or Liam, our grandchildren, behind her listening to the kids screaming faster... faster... the following song spills out of my lips as my heart is so full of joy... and I burst into song ..."Isn’t she LOVELY! Isn’t she WONDERFUL! So I named her “Lovely.”