My parents lived on Lake Huron in Greenbush, Michigan. It was their retirement home. We had bought a small blue boat. It was on a hoist in the water off their beach in front of the house. We visited on summer weekends.

My dad and my husband and I woke up early one morning to go perch fishing. We lowered the boat into the water. My dad started the motor and we were on our way to the fishing hole., “This looks like the spot. Throw the anchor out and we will try it for a while.” said my dad.

My husband was new to boating. I heard a splash. “JESUS CHRIST! THE ANCHOR WAS NOT TIED TO THE ROPE!” cried my dad.

I was standing up on my seat in the boat.

They had not tied the anchor and Chuck just threw it in the water. It’s gone. “It’s gone.” I said. We went back to the house. My mother came out and said “Look in the garage on the top shelf. I think there is another anchor.” I was thrilled. My dad and Chuck went to the garage. She was right. Up on the top shelf, there was an anchor! It was not a big anchor but it was perfect for our small boat. I followed them onto the dock and watched Chuck tie the anchor onto the rope.

I was happy. I kissed my dad and my husband. Once again we headed to the perch hole.

My husband threw the anchor, now tied to the rope, overboard. However, the rope was not tied to the boat! My husband saw the rope sink out of sight. Both the anchor and the rope disappeared. We sadly returned to the beach.

My mother tried once again. ” We do have the coffee can anchors on the bottom shelf. ” she said.

“Oh! I said, “The ones you made when you put in the driveway at Uncle Jack’s?” They filled coffee cans with concrete and then put heavy duty eye hooks into the top.

My dad went into the garage and rummaged around to find the coffee can anchors.

He came out with one. “All I could find.” he said. “All you should need is one.” my mother said with a note of sarcasm. “What about rope?” I came up with an answer to that one. “We have a rope in the trunk of our car.” My husband opened the trunk and there indeed was a coil of rope. Most people in Michigan have rope to get their cars out of ditches in the winter.

I watched my dad double knot the end of the rope to the eye hook on the anchor. Chuck took the other end and tied it with a triple knot to the back cleat at the rear of the boat.

My dad threw the homemade anchor overboard. It went into the water with a splash.

“The new anchor worked. We brought dinner! ” my dad said. I went into the house to help my mom make the side dishes. My dad and Chuck went outside to clean the fish. We were newlyweds. My husband did not know that I did not like fish. I would eat the side dishes. On our first date he ordered clams on the half shell. I think he assumed I would be impressed. I ordered chicken cordon bleu to impress him. I did not like my meal. I had a hard time watching him eat the slimy clams in the shells. He could tell that I hated what I had ordered.