Dolphin 7 - An Escort Home

“A ship in harbor is safe but that is not what ships were designed for.” Anonymous

Journal, March 2017.

Flying home to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from sunny and warm Florida yesterday, my aunt June and I knew we would be landing just hours before the big snow storm would hit the east coast. A flight delay slowed us down, but we made it home in time to get settled in and wait for the snow to start.

Yesterday, it was 80 degrees in Florida and I was sitting by the ocean watching sea gulls fly. This morning, it was 30 degrees in Pennsylvania and I was sitting by the window watching snow fly. But I am home. With my hubby and kids. And it is good. Loud, but good.

My aunt asked me to accompany her on a trip to Florida to visit her dad, my 92 year old grandpa. He fell several weeks ago and is in a nursing home. Words like long term care, dehydration, living will, hospice and funeral plans were a part of our conversations as we walked with Grandpa’s devoted wife, Katie, as she made some hard decisions.

IV fluids corrected the dehydration enough for us to have a few special moments when his quirky personality peeked through. Unfortunately his condition warrants entry into hospice care. We were able to say good bye, knowing we would not see him anymore on this earth. He is going home. At one point, he said, “I thought I heard my dad talking.” We looked at each other, knowing.

A few times, he opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling, clearly looking at something. The most precious moment for me was the night before we left. He never really recognized me, but I treated him like he knew who I was. I gave him a kiss on the forehead. “We have to leave tomorrow, Grandpa. We are flying home to Pennsylvania where it’s going to snow. I love you.” He looked at me and with a clear, strong voice said, “I love you, too.” He said the same to June as she said her good-byes. Heart-melting moments.

Grandpa is known in Sarasota, Florida as Captain Rutt. His love of fishing led him into the charter fishing business. He introduced all of his children and grandchildren to deep sea fishing and instilled in us a love for the deep blue sea.

When I read Psalm 107, I think of Grandpa. “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”

Blue Dolphin 6, his current charter fishing boat, will soon be retired. Blue Dolphin 7 (figuratively) will soon be here to escort Grandpa to his desired haven, Heaven.

Phares Rutt’s last boat, the Blue Dolphin 6 dry docked.

23 Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.

24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.

25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.

26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. 

28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 

29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.