So in the past, I have stated that I would at times be talking about things other than the Bean. Now is that time, so let us sail away with an amazing friend on an amazing boat. Through an amazing set of coincidences, I have been reacquainted with an old friend, Craig W.
The story of Craig
Just a quick back story here, back in high school I met Mark who introduced me to Stanley (Sandy), who introduced me to Craig. Now, this is so far back the schools were still one-room cabins that you had to walk 2 miles (3.2 km), uphill, in the snow, too. Okay not quite that far back but still a long way back.
Sandy was my college roommate and Craig was his close friend, time goes on about doing what time does, making me really old, and I had not seen Craig for 30 years or better. Fast forward to the time of Bean, when I brought the Bean home, and I am talking with my friend Sandy who is now, actually always been, my CPA, a whole story in itself, and I mention that I am now the proud owner of the Bean.
What a strange trip this is
This is the trippy part. Sandy says to me, you know Craig-y just bought a new ride, a BMW. And he sends me a picture, the one above. Allllrighty now here is where it gets trippy. My brother works at the wonderful dealership BMW of San Jose selling BMW motorcycles and I show him Craig’s picture. He, my brother, says ya I know him. Of course, my response was, huh, what the… Cory explains that Craig came in looking at motorcycles and liked the GSA models, but found one that was a really good deal and bought that one instead of one from Cory. No hard feelings, a good deal is a good deal.
I tell Sandy the connection between Cory and Craig, Sandy tells Craig the connection between Cory and me, and before you know it I am talking again with Craig. What a great story, right? I know you are thinking I’m done, happy ending and all, but no, wait there’s more…
Talk about common interest
Craig and I are now happily connected via email and text but had yet to set up a day when we can go riding together. Promises, promises. Now a little-known fact here, Bean and I are armchair sailors, we love sailboats and will often just ride to marinas to look at them and dream.
Just looking
One fine day the Bean and I find our way down to a marina in Alameda and are sitting in the parking lot just below the Oakland Yacht Club overlooking the many fine boats below. That is when I decide to text Craig and see what he is up to. At this point, I have no idea where Craig lives but I figured after I leave here maybe I would zoom his direction and say hey in person. I text, he texts back, I say I’m in Alameda at a marina, he says, really I have a boat down there, I say cool where? He says just below the Oakland Yacht Club off dock #. WTF, (translation ‘what the frick’).
I am sitting there on Bean looking directly down on his boat. This is where the emoji of the little man with his head exploding pops in. Not only has Craig popped back up on my radar but he is a sailor.
Tickle my ass with a feather, I mean how is the weather… I am just amazed at all this. So now not only have I reestablished an old friendship, got a new riding buddy, met his beautiful wife Renata but also have somebody to go sailing with.
