Outrigger Siesta
Monday, June 11th, 2007
After reef check in Moalboal everybody was exhausted. But none registered more than on Alix. It was low tide when we got back. And the wind was blowing hard making it difficult to secure the boat in place. Alix sat on the outrigger, legs dangling, arms limping on the side. Then he started to doze off, head nodding in cadence with the breaking waves. I believed he was asleep despite the awkwardness of his position, his body was almost bent to the bamboo planking! This was absolutely comical, and we forgot our own drowsiness.
We called out to Alix to wake him up so he will not fall. His head snapped, body swung back erect. He turned and smiled, then looked ahead with an empty gaze, and started nodding again, nod, nod, nod, body bent, and bent some more. His nose was almost touching his knees! At first we were a bit concerned he might go overboard. But after TWENTY UNBELIEVABLE MINUTES of nodding, and dozing off without falling, everybody’s mind was shouting: Fall Alix, fall, fall! It was like being in the brink of sneezing, but for some reason, you did not, but you really wanted to sneeze. So Alix’ falling in the water meant you were able to sneeze, but Alix did not fall, so you did not sneeze! How hilariously frustrating!!!
