Soon after their beautiful garden wedding at his mother’s home in Lilburn Georgia, my daughter Susie (Carole) and Terrell came to visit me in Venice Florida.

Susie and Terrell wedding picture

You will have to admit, a BEAUTIFUL GARDEN WEDDING is a hard act to follow! So……..what to do?????? HEY, how about a party on a sail boat? That sounds like A winner. So…. I charter a seventy six foot sail boat I found tied up on Marina Bay by Marina Jacks restaurant in Sarasota with a delightful young Captain and Mate!

Counting the two of them, I could have twelve for my five hour afternoon excursion sailing the Intra-coastal waterway along Sarasota.

My friend Cliff, beside me, I greet my guests, the newlyweds Susie and Terrell, my daughter Pamela and her husband Tracy, two couples from my office, Ron and Bernice, Mary and Rob.  ALL ABOARD…..WE SET SAIL!!!!!!!!!

A champagne toast to the newly weds, followed by shrimp cocktail prepared and served by Tracy and Terrell and naturally a beer chaser to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trusting, yours truly, at the helm, our Captain is back there smacking his lips, finishing off the shrimp cocktail.

The newly weds Susie and Terrell getting a thumbs up from our captain for the shrimp cocktail.

Sailing through the intracoastal waters several of our guests took their bout piloting as our captain enjoyed the ride on the sail. What a HAPPY FUN LOVING GUY!!!!!!!!

As the afternoon sun is sinking in the sky, quietly sailing through the shimmering blue water with friends, food and fun, this young Captain and his lovely wife (mate) bring us back into port, by Marina Jack’s sea food restaurant.

I write this story in honor of my precious daughter Carole Suzanne Smith, who lived fifty five wonderful years before cancer took her from us.

My little Susie at age eight

My precious daughter Susie (Carole Suzanne) will live forever in my heart!!!

FRF ♥