It was about 8:30 on Navy Pier in Chicago. I was sitting on a bench talking with my dad. We had just spent the day using wrist bands to get tours on a whole bunch of old sailboats. The ships had been busy all day but from our bench we could tell that hardly anyone was touring them anymore. Dad and I were talking. Mom was shopping. We were just waiting for the fireworks over the lake.
Meanwhile, the first crew guy that talked to me handed me a brush (on a long handle like a broom) and told me to go behind the crew members that were spraying it down with water and sprinkling it with salt. He gave me a lesson on why they do that. I've forgotten. Then he laughed and apologized for making me clean the ship. After all, it hadn't been my idea at all. Oh well, I was going to do it and I was going to do it right.
Mom came back and sat by me and Dad. Wanting to give them a while alone on their anniversary, I left and walked down the pier. May as well go onto a sailboat by myself. No lines, no kids asking questions. Just me on the boat with the waves beneath me and a beautiful view of Navy Pier in front of me as the sky was getting darker by the minute, and the lights of the city behind me were getting brighter just as quickly.
The man letting me onto the boat must have thought it odd that a girl my age would just be confidently walking onto the boat by myself. Oh well, I had the wrist band. He had to let me.
I didn't really care much about the boat. It looked all the others, I didn't want to look around. I just went to the the far side and looked over the edge. Watched the Ferris wheel on the Pier go round and round with the most beautiful lights. It was peaceful. And let's be honest, Chicago is my favorite city in the world, I was soaking up the minutes I had to myself just to look at it.
But my peace was disturbed. I heard a voice next to me. "So, do you have any questions about our boat?" It was a crew member. I mentally rolled my eyes, not wanting to be bothered. I think I even said, "No I don't." But then thought more and decided to be polite. He didn't seem busy and wanted to talk to the one 'customer' that was stopped on their ship. May as well ask him some questions about himself. "How long have you been working on this boat?" (Three years.) "What's your favorite and least favorite part of sailing?" (I get to sail everyday. It's a double-edged sword.)
I continued asking questions, but I hardly even looked at him, I was still just soaking in the city. I remember that I told him about how I'd wanted to climb up all the rope ladders to get to the very top of the sails. You know, like a pirate. Only I didn't say that. (And what's my problem, I'm scared of heights.) I think it made him laugh. He told me I wouldn't have made it up. Someone would stopped me, even if I had done my best to look like I knew what I was doing.
It was probably about 8:50. Still 40 minutes til the fireworks. "So are we allowed to watch the fireworks from the ship?" Well, oops, how was I supposed to know that the ship closed to the public at 9:00. And he told me that. Crew member man: "I didn't even know there were fireworks, and we're closed soon, but you might be able to stay on depending on who you ask." I felt bad. "It's ok, I have a great view from a bench on the pier! I'll just go back there, I didn't know we weren't supposed to be on the boat anymore." But I'd already asked the question and his wheels were turning in his mind to help me solve my 'problem.' "We might be able to get you to help us clean the boat and we'll let you stay on. I'll go ask."
I think I just stood there stunned. I hadn't meant to ask to do something I wasn't supposed to do. I just thought it would be cool for my parents and I to watch fireworks from a really pretty ship. And hey, it was their anniversary, I had to do what I could.
He came back with another crew member. "Hey, Megan," (heart stopped for a second how he knew my name, then realized I had told crew member #1 what it was), "I heard there was an issue and you're wondering if you can help us scrub our deck if we'll let you stay on to watch the fireworks." I probably really rolled my eyes this time. It had not ever been my idea to clean the boat. I was imagining myself on hands and knees with a bucket and a tiny little brush, scrubbing the thing all night long. But I just had to go with it. I heard myself saying, "Yeah, I'll help, I thought it'd be really cool for my parents and I to watch from here since it's such a pretty view. And after all, it is their 33rd anniversary." (Who could say No to someone's anniversary, right??).
We talked a bit more. I think he asked if I could get my parents to bring beer. Um, nope. Not drinkin' with sailors. Not today. But he agreed. He had me call Dad. "Dad, I might be able to get us to watch the fireworks from here, even though it's closed. The only catch is I have to help them clean the boat." Of course my parents got a kick out of that. They marched on down the pier to join us, cameras out, all smiles, ready to meet the crew.
Meanwhile, the first crew guy that talked to me handed me a brush (on a long handle like a broom) and told me to go behind the crew members that were spraying it down with water and sprinkling it with salt. He gave me a lesson on why they do that. I've forgotten. Then he laughed and apologized for making me clean the ship. After all, it hadn't been my idea at all. Oh well, I was going to do it and I was going to do it right.
I scrubbed that salt/water combo right into the boards of the ship. I told the crew member I was near that if I was doing it wrong, he had to tell me without worrying about offending me. He told me I was doing it right. Well, cool. I felt like a part of the crew. The last of the touristy people had gone, my parents were relaxed down at the end of the boat, and I was scrubbing away. It was fun. It's like they accepted me as one of their own, even though I only helped them for fifteen minutes.
They were all so kind. The fireworks were fireworks, nothing spectacular. But, I don't know, sitting on a sailboat rather than in the middle of a crowd, with the crew nearby enjoying it with us, it was just really cool. I remember sitting there thinking about how this kind of thing never happens. The first crew guy even told me that any other ship's crew would have said no to what I had asked them. And there had been hundreds of people touring those ships all day long, just part of a long line....blurred faces to the crew. But nope, we got to know the crew and sit there with the fireworks lighting up the sky. And it felt even cooler that I had earned it by scrubbing the deck. Another thing I know I'll never do again (I mean, honestly, ships aren't really my thing. I'll never do something like that again simply because I won't go seeking out that kind of opportunity).
It was one of those quiet moments that just doesn't seem real. And it was just really special. I know my parents miss me like crazy when I'm not there (and I left them all summer long). So just enjoying that with them was wonderful. The sailors were all so kind and even in that one hour of me being on that boat, we became friends. Friends that will never see each other again, of course, but in those few moments of getting to know each other, we really took it seriously and had a good time.
Who would have thought that me going off to have a few minutes away from my parents could lead to such a fun event (and anniversary gift to my parents!) and an opportunity to meet some really cool people that are living a much different life than I am. What a cool night in the city.
Chicago, I miss you already.
