24 Comments
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Lou Cunningham's avatar

Noni by email. 'Love your thoughts Lou and the way you pulled together different parts of your life to give depth about your response to how a boat box can pull together former and much larger in physical size experiences in your relationship to boats! Thanks so much. And I like the way you included pics from other days around boats. '

Claire Thompson's avatar

Love your story and your writing Lou. The history, the significance of “the boat box” to your true nautical soul is so comforting and a pleasure to read, to understand who you are. “Never to be defeated” no challenge too great but an experience to be had. “Rightaway” with you till it wasn’t, but your memories tucked away in the boat box to be treasured and released when you are. How apt. Thanks for the read Lou. .

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thank you Claire for your thoughts.

Dami Roelse's avatar

Better be 20 in the 70ties than 70 in the twenties”! Love it. And yes you took me with you on boat memories. I sailed, never confidently, I rowed crew and found my DNA. You know we have better stories now than we had then (the 70ties). Finding your boat box is beautiful especially for what it can be used!

Mark Heyward's avatar

Great writing. Lovely. Great story, too. Great life. Nicely done.

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thanks Mark.

Jane Bovill's avatar

Great writing. Could this be a personal sailing novel? I also was taught rowing on the same boat but was considered hopeless so only happened a few times. Remember the stories you shared - wasn’t I an addition at the Boat Show? I remember the catamaran surfing - never been so scared in my life. Fabulous way to share your special memories. I will be interested who keeps the box!!

Lou Cunningham's avatar

I’m thinking that is a no-brainer! 😏

Jennie Gouldthorpe's avatar

Beautiful writing Lou. I had no idea you did all that boating stuff in the early days. Your adventuring is amazing & continues!

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thanks Jen. Good there was some surprises. 😊

Sally Hildred's avatar

Bittersweet Lou. Amazing memories, you are a survivor.

A fitting end, let’s hope it’s the beginning for an amazing history for the box, I would love to think the box has a fitting and full history in 100 years time, starting with you!

There’s a novel in that.

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Now there’s a thought!

Caro's avatar

Wonderful memories, Louise! What an abundant life you‘ve lived so far and still do! ❤️

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thanks Caro. Such different memories to life in Stuttgart. 😁

Meg Connelly's avatar

Another winner Lou. Loved it; I was there with you!

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thanks Meg. Sydney Harbour would have been special. 😏

The AI Architect's avatar

Beautiful piece on how objects can hold entire lifetimes. The way the Boat Box connects all those decades of boating is really something. I've had similar moments where a smell or texture unlocks a whole cascade of memmories, and linseed oil bringing back boatyards is such a specific sensory detail. The full-circle nature of starting with a dinghy and ending with that same simplicity feels intentionally poetic.

Lou Cunningham's avatar

I liked the synchronicity too. The 8’ punto at the beginning and end of my boating life, mainly occurred because of financial constraints. 😏

Linda Parrant's avatar

Wonderful story about these chapters in your life. Adventurer Lou aptly named. great image of your dingy in the water. As for the ashes in the Boat box. "Who pays the ferryman"

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Thanks Linda. The Boat Box will need a coin as well. 😊

Lee Buchanan's avatar

Wonderful story and memories Lou. Beautiful writing.

Lou Cunningham's avatar

Karla by email: What a beautiful piece of writing Lou - poignant and raw - your writing allows me to ‘get you’ and I love what I ‘get’ .

Lou Cunningham's avatar

We did all that stuff in the 70s and didn’t think twice about it. It’s now, on reflection, we see how special it was. 😁