
I constantly find myself stumbling upon a simple phrase that Gramps would say, "we're the luckiest people in the world!" I'd look up at his face, my arm stretching out entirely to reach his hand. I could see inside his hairy nostrils and noted how bushy eyebrows were and raise my Shirley Temple in delight. These features seemed to make him wise and all knowing, like the snowy owl painting he often sat beside while entertaining. I had complete admiration for the man. I believed him entirely when he said we were lucky. That's never faded, whenever the tough gets going, or I need a break, those words materialize in my mind. Although I only got to know him for seven short years, the impact he had on me will last a lifetime.
Gramps, instilled a love of the ocean into my dad, which they both passed down to me. My dad calls it "poison," he says I've been "poisoned" too. "Once you give your heart to the ocean, it will tug at your strings, luring you in deeper and deeper, until your poisoned with dreams of blue marlin, and endless seas."

I wanted to see more fish, I wanted to know more about what was below that blue reflective, ever churning surface that was starting to cast its spell on me. I wanted to be back out at sea; nature's amusement park.

Every time I breath under water, catch a fish, or just sink my feet into the sand and let the tide wash the sand around me to sea, I take a deep breath and know I'm connected to something so much greater than I could ever imagine. This is why I'm writing today's blog, because of your presence in my life, Gramps. I know each time I see the ocean, you're there with me in some way, even if it's just because I'm there; remembering you and thanking you.
We were all have something that drives us: who or what inspires you?