Love Odyssey

Sometimes a girl just needs to have fun!  We generally spend a good portion of our time working on boat projects.  It seems there is a never-ending list of things that need to be repaired, maintained or up-graded.   For example, yesterday we worked on putting bungs in the teak deck and mastic between the narrow teak boards.  I really don’t mind doing these projects, but occasionally we have to build in some fun.  So this morning we took out our new-to-us dinghy and roared out the channel of the marina and under the Oriental Bridge at full tilt.  I was sitting at the bow of the dinghy and each wave that we hit had me bouncing up off my seat.  Bryce figured we were doing about 25 miles per hour, which is pretty fast for an 11-foot rigid inflatable boat.

Both of us have an explorer streak—we like to find new places.  Today we explored the little creeks that branch out from the Oriental harbor.  There were some lovely houses with docks behind where boats of various types were tied up.  We saw lots of floats marking crab pots and a few people fishing for puppy drum in remote coves.  I always want to see where a creek ends or disappears (or becomes too narrow or shallow for anything but a kayak).  Our curiosity quenched, we turned the dinghy around and entered the main harbor where the shrimp boats are docked.  We noticed that not as many boats were in the harbor as in previous weekends—maybe the shrimping season is winding down.  We tied up the dinghy at the public dock and walked across the street to the Bean for my favorite drink, a “Bean Freeze”.  The Bean is the heart of the town and everyone eventually goes there sometime in the weekend.  We met a friend we had not seen for many months and chatted for an hour while catching up on the local news.  Such a treat!  Yes, a girl needs to have some fun—and the dinghy ride was just what I needed.

 Helen—08/28/10

We just finished our third Safe Passage cruise.  It still surprises me how much progress couples make when they commit to a cruise.  Our third couple was no exception—they worked hard and learned other ways to connect with their partner so that the love and intimacy that initially was present years ago could once more be evident. 

Bryce and I enjoy these cruises but we work hard too.  I admire Bryce’s wisdom about where to delve each day and how to tailor exercises to meet each couple’s needs.  I know that it must take a lot of courage and energy for each odyssey couple to trust us and give every bit of effort to improve the relationship.  We are always tired at the end of each day and I cannot imagine how tired our couples must be.  Not only do we move the boat from one location to another almost every day, but we also move the relationship forward each day.  There is so much new material to digest daily.  

 As I sit here now and look back at the past three Safe Passage cruises that we have completed so far this summer, I want to say “Thank you” to the couples who have been brave enough to trust us and let us “beta test” the Love Odyssey concept.  It seems that it really does work.  And now I look forward to all the new adventures on the relationship sea for couples who need an odyssey to get their relationship back on course again.

 Helen –08/21/10

Today we began another Safe Passage cruise. It is always challenging to see the problems that the couple present and then figure out what types of intervention they need to get un-stuck and moving in a positive direction. But now in addition to helping the couple, we carry our own burden which I mentioned in my last post. It is helpful for us to focus on the couple because we can do something positive and feel good about it; we really can’t do anything about our family problem because it is out of our hands. So tonight I sit here and anticipate helping another couple navigate the thorny path of relationships and I can smile and feel like we are making a difference in their lives. And so life goes on even though we feel this sadness in our chests that we cannot escape.

 Helen –08/15/10

I have not written a blog for over two weeks, and I apologize to my followers.  Bryce and I have been hit with a severe family tragedy that has shaken both of us to our very roots.  I cannot divulge the details, but Bryce and I are extremely upset and having difficulty doing even the routine day-to-day tasks.  We hope that with time we will learn to live with this and grow to become stronger and better people.  As the old saying goes: “That which does not kill you, will make you stronger”.  I am praying for that strength and saying the Serenity Prayer several times a day.  We lean on each other a lot now, and I am so thankful for Bryce’s strength and wisdom. Together we will heal.

 Helen – 08/08/10