I shared this photo a while back on Facebook along with other photos from my time in Jacksonville, FL. but there is so much more to this photo. First my dear friend Victoria who will not be thrilled to be featured but I felt it was warranted. Vic has set in the balcony of my life for many years and has seen the good, bad and ugly of my life. She has been there through career & personal changes, my battle with cancer and the loss of both my parents and other loved ones.
The day we met it just seemed as she was placed in my life, there was never a doubt that our friendship was meant to be. We both at that time worked for the same company and did the same job. I was impressed with her from the day we met, she was smart, confident and on top of her business. If you know me well you know that it takes a lot to impress me but she did. I wanted to get to know her and hopefully improve my own skills by being around her. Fortunately for me our professional and personal relationships took off. We have the type of friendship that no matter the time and distance apart we simply pick up where we left off. She makes me laugh and challenges me on occasion to see the world differently.
Now to discuss the boat this picture includes, this is Sweet Caroline and Victoria lovingly and painstaking restored her. When I first saw Sweet Caroline she wasn't much to look at as she had been neglected for a lot of years and the blue tarp that had been covering her had basically become part of the remaining wood. Victoria saw what could be and over a period of 7 years and several moves (some international) she took apart this beauty and reconstructed her. What amazes me the most is that she self taught herself how to do this while raising a family and handing a rental business. Sweet Caroline is the second wooden boat she has restored. She volunteered endless hours at a boat yard and did endless hours of research to master this craft. To have the passion to learn and be willing to put in the hard work to do this impresses me even more.
Last time I was in Jacksonville, FL for a visit the weather was not great so we could not take Sweet Caroline out but on this last trip we took her out to watch the sunset and I was so very proud of my friend as I walked down the walkway from her house to where Sweet Caroline is docked and took this picture before boarding. I am so thankful for strong friends in my life that support me and that set an example of what can be if you're willing to do the work.