Outskirts Press, INC.

Life, Love, Joy, Sadness and Maturity

in the Mid Twentieth Century

"The Windward Side is the culmination of one man's pursuit of happiness, an endeavor through land, air, and sea, that has taken him through various obstacles, snags, land mines, and higher education, but it is a pursuit that has rendered him wiser, constantly companioned by his heavenly father, and ultimately, fulfilled. Whether young or old, readers of all ages will delightfully occupy the passenger seat as the author steers them through his tales of life, love, joy, sadness, and maturity. You are invited to join the author as he skillfully pilots the ship of his experiences through rough waters, tumultuous terrain, and harrowing weather on the windward side of one rural boy's island."

INTRODUCTION



Challenges



“A ship in harbor is safe—but that is not what ships are built for.”



-John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928





That quote from Mr. Shedd is one of my all-time favorites. It says so much about life with so few words.



A typical harbor is sheltered. They are commonly on the leeward side of an island, opposite that of the one facing the prevailing wind. They are usually well protected from the incoming waves by breakwaters, jetties, or such. There is usually a lot of activity in and around harbors, but it is safe activity and holds little risk for the participants.



Such is not the case on the other side, or the windward side, of the typical island. Here the challenges and risks take place. Here there are folks sailing, deep-sea fishing, surfing, snorkeling, diving, etc. These are fun and challenging activities, but all carry an element of risk.



Speaking of ships, here is where they are driven upon the rocky shore, and where the lives of sailors are lost. Such is life on the windward side.



Some people try to spend their entire lives in harbor, never venturing out to the windward side where the challenges and risks take place. My father had a friend who saw his father lose everything during the great depression; the man was so traumatized by his observation that he never had children and never owned a home. Subsequently, he ended up paying several times the cost of a home in rent. He had a good opportunity to go into business but didn’t want to take the risk and chose to spend his entire life working at a boring job for meager wages.



This book is all about challenges and risk taking. In relating my experiences with coming of age, it will be mentioned from time to time that some activity is on the windward side, and you will know what is meant without further explanation.



So, come with me, and let us take a misty memory stroll along the beaches of our mythical island, sometimes bravely venturing to “the windward side.”