10/11/2026
Way more than the end of the season boat tour!
A gentleman that I have known for more than 40 years. We hunted together in New York and Idaho. I would go to his house for dinner when I was in college. His lovely wife knows I eat a lot of applesauce. I always had it there until. She looked at a can that read applesauce had she rotated it she would have seen the word Pine.šAlways a running joke after that.
She was sick the last few years and recently passed away. We chatted the last week. With a very strong grip she smiled and asked if I needed pineapple sauce. She never made it to the boat. Today her husband did and what a tour it was. As we entered the locks the lock master asked who I have on board today. (I quite often do military tours.) I informed him one of my oldest friends. He then asked if it was my dad. No but always like a father figure in my life. Is he the reason youāre one of the best Captains in the Finger Lakes. Well not necessarily but we will take it. As we leave I look back to see a little moisture in his eyes. I asked are you ok? My wife would have really loved this. I wish she was here. I understand but as we know she was sick for the last few years. Just then something catches my eye. Right in front of me not one but two eagles light in front of the boat. I said pop she may actually be here. Look now pop because they usually fly as they get 90 degrees from the boat. Well not today we went right under them.
As we continue to talk about life and I get to learn more amazing history. He was the president of s***t and in the hall of fame. He was recently invited to a gathering of the legends of s***t. In the seventies he was on the American s***t team going against Europe. Well went as an alternate then got called up. He said nervous as hell but went to shoot a 497 out of 500. Our boys wonšŗšø.
We then talked about his father a Geneva Doctor. A gentleman that cared about his patients. More than you can imagine. The day after Pearl Harbor he went to sign up for the military. Said the line was several blocks long. Ends up with the Air Force and with the mighty 8th. I was told stories about him caring so much much for service men. He put up a pup tent along the side of the airstrip so he could be to the wounded fast. Another awesome inside the 8th was run by General Jimmy Doolittle. Prior to that Doolittle actually raced Curtis airplanes. I had even heard stories of his father in Geneva. A young teenager with stomach pain not wanting to see a doctor. Saying it feels better but a motherās intuition and strength of a brother put him in a car. Get to the doctors office at 10 pm to find at least 10 people waiting to see him. The doctor comes out to give a quick evaluation. Touches the young manās side. The boy about goes through the ceiling. Doctor says I will meet you at the hospital. I was told that he beat them there. He then did an operation on a young boy who had a ruptured appendix. Many years later the Doctor is evaluating a young wife who is feeling a bit off. She seems to be laughing he asked why. She replies if I donāt laugh I will cry. He said keep laughing. He then informed her she is pregnant.
Well folks the young mans whose life was saved by the doctor my dad. The young wife yes you guessed it my mom. I would not be here if it wasnāt for the doctor. Today I got to give his son my oldest friend a canal tour to end the 2026 season.
