Sometimes the deadline for this column is challenging. I tend not to be good with deadlines, especially ones that are reoccurring. Too many games without a helmet I suspect! But then, it’s probably more realistic to admit that forming habits was never one of my strong suits, possibly encouraged by my significant dose of attention deficit. The number of started projects versus the number of completed ones is considerable. Eventually, things get done but often they take a while. Not a great attribute especially when completion is often associated with paydays in the work-a-day world. I run a deferred payment program very efficiently!

Having said all this, the looming deadline for this week’s adventure became very apparent as thoughts and words escaped me. Time to make the donuts Mitchell with no ingredient list available.

Then, during my weekly stop over at Bristol Marine in the Harbor, a vision appeared in the form of the hauled up and vacant small railway cart with a Harbor backdrop!

Once a week for the last probably at least 10 years I have visited the Bristol Marine yard to record the progress of projects, new and ongoing. Over the years, my visits have been so informative and enjoyable; it’s one deadline that I actually look forward to. The workers at the yard are a wonderful gathering of talented individuals. They have become almost like family as my weekly checking reveals far more than extraordinary talents. The birth of new children, surgeries, passing of beloved coworkers and family members, stories of adventures and much more have become part of my photographic experiences. I get a weekly update and even sometimes contacts regarding the status of loved ones as they go through challenging health issues.

In all my years visiting Bristol, Hodgdon Yachts, Goudy and Stevens, Washburn and Doughty and others, to the person, no one has ever been anything but pleasant and informative. And I can ask some pretty stupid questions.

I recall my years photographing projects at Hodgdon facilities when Sonny Hodgdon was still with us. I used to enjoy annoying his extensive boat knowledge and professional protocol. “Sonny,” I would say while sharing space on a photo boat run up Linekin Bay. “Sonny, I need to go downstairs to the bathroom!” Expletive! Expletive! “Mitchell, will you always be a Pennsylvania coal miner? It’s below to the head, always has been and always will be. Gimme that camera. Which end do you look through and what are all these buttons for?” Then we’d laugh. It became a game but I knew it was also a gift to have encouraged that banter.

So ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that’s my story for this week. Thank goodness for the appearance of a sunny November day looking into the sun surrounded by friends and good spirit. Sometimes indecisions can turn out OK. I’ve been rather lucky in that regard.