Oh, my. What a loss! We lost a good man here, a very good man indeed. Our memories of Paul are many, way many, and include…
He was quiet of course, a welcomed trait nowadays, but highly ethical, introspective and boy oh boy, did he ever help others… such as helping so many folks with their annual taxes each Spring. This was a big blessing to so many.
Memories. Oh boy, do we ever have memories and wonderful memories they are.
We met Paul and Cheryl about 20 years ago around our jobs, our employment. But that thin attachment quickly matured into a robust relationship built on friendship, faith, love and, of course, sailing, sailing old sloops on the Great lakes.
After we retired, Paul and Cheryl introduced us to the North Channel with books and charts and lots of conversations. We were sold…hook, line and sinker. We immediately cruised around the North Channel and fell in love with it too just like many others have. Thank you, Paul.
We had many dinners in restaurants and in our homes and celebrated birthdays and holidays together but, each time, the conversation easily and quickly turned to our common interest, sailing. Where did you go this past summer? Where were we all going to meet up next summer? How did that latest gadget work on the boat last season? And on and on it went. Paul asking us leading questions, getting us talking about ourselves and our old boat. One of the many character traits we admired in Paul. That is, getting others to talk about themselves. He was quiet but a master at relationships. A master.
One summer, we both sailed up to Leland. In that little port town, we met for dinner in the evening at Paul and Cheryl’s favorite restaurant there, the Blue Bird. We sat in Paul’s favorite booth and had his favorite dish on the menu. And, across the street, we all pigged out on ice cream afterwards.
Another time, we had both sailed into Manistee and met at Manistee’s famous ice cream place. Again, pigging out on the week’s special triple cone. Another year, we sailed into Mackinaw Island and met up there in the marina. After dinner on our boat, we, of course, had ice cream on the island. See the theme here?
Every year, we would meet for a delicious pizza dinner at Silver Beach pizza and discuss last summer’s trials and tribulations and next year’s dreams. What easy, relaxed and joy filled dinners they were. We will miss them.
These are delightful memories that we will treasure forever. Forever.
A couple weeks ago, Paul and I had a conversation at the marina as he was standing on the dock looking over our old sloop as I was repairing something. Of course, he complimented us on the boat and the several improvements we had made for cruising. The last thing he said to me was “Enjoy this beautiful boat, Chuck. Enjoy it. Get out there and sail it. Enjoy it”. We took your advice, Paul. We are.
Chuck and Carolyn Philip
s/v Sona Linn
