Back in the '60s my mother's brothers Howard and Paul Webster owned a boating business that catered to people using the newly opened Smith Mountain Lake in Southern Virginia.  For the 4th of July holiday my cousin-by-marriage Jimmie Cooper was loaned one of the sailboats to take me, my sister-in-law Carolyn Wagner, and first cousin Kitty Hylton for a day's sail on the lake.  Jimmie, a veteran of WWII, loved boats and anything to do with adventure.  

It was my 23rd summer.  I had a year of teaching under my belt  and preparing for the new term.  A few weeks earlier I had met Jack, my future husband.  Carolyn, 18, was married to my brother.  They were living at my parents' home for the summer, working to save money for the next year of college. Kitty Susan, 16, was a junior in high school.

The three of us girls had never before even been on a sailboat.  My idea for the day was sitting in my seat and letting the wind gently blow us down the lake while enjoying the snacks packed for the day.

To my astonishment that was not how it was at all.  Jimmie needed help.  And that help involved climbing to adjust the sails according to the wind.  Carolyn turned out to be the bravest of us three and became Jimmie's first mate.  Thankfully, we were all wearing life jackets except for Jimmie.

The scenery was idyllic and the breezes were just right, as I recall.  In those days our homes had no air-conditioning, so lake breezes were refreshing for sure.  The wind kept us moving for quite some time.

However, in the middle of the afternoon the water suddenly became placid with not much wind whatsoever.  The sky grew dark and Jimmie began eyeing the shore for a place to dock.

I was sitting in the back of the boat.  Without warning I suddenly saw what appeared to be a wall of water coming straight for us!!  I yelled to everyone, "Look out!  We're going to be hit!!!"  And at that moment we were!!!

I remember thinking I must jump free of the boat, and with utter terror I landed in the water.  Kitty Susan, seven years my junior, landed beside me.  Jimmie yelled to us to hold on to the boat.  I found a metal ring to clasp.  Susie had nothing to hold onto except me.  I was so concentrating on Susie and myself, I was not aware of what else was happening.  

When we went over, Jimmie suffered a huge gash in his leg from the boom. He could not see Carolyn.  In spite of the pain he kept reaching under the boat, hoping to grasp her hand.  She was indeed caught under the boat.  By miracle, reaching for his hand, she was pulled out from under.

At this moment another pleasure motor boat filled with people saw what had happened.  They moved as close as possible to our capsized boat.  By this time the lake appeared to be a virtual ocean with huge waves and thunder and lightning from the skies.  Somehow they managed to take on Carolyn and Jimmie.  They radioed for help.

Susie and I in the meantime were petrified.  I kept telling her, "Hold on!!"  After what seemed like hours another boat approached, a motor boat, with two men we learned later were deputy sheriffs.  Each time they would get close enough to pull us aboard, a wave would knock them away.  After several attempts we made it.

They took us to the nearest dock, which happened to be a tackle store for fishermen.  They had us get out of the boat while they searched for JImmie and Carolyn.  This was way before cellphones and texting.

Word came that Jimmie and Carolyn were safe.  

Susie and I were chilled to the bone with no shoes.  I have never felt so vulnerable, drenched and no purse.  The sheriff boat returned to the dock and took us back on board.  By this time the storm was over and the waves had subsided.  They wanted to help us get back to the cove where we had set out.  

We came to an area I thought might be it, so we disembarked - Susie and me.  What to do - all we knew to do was find a lake cottage with people at home and ask them to make a call for us.  

We shimmied up a steep bank and saw lights on in an A-frame cottage.  I knocked, hoping they would make a call for us.   We were not only brought inside with our muddy feet but personally taken the 20 miles back home.  My mother and her sisters were weak with relief to see us walk in.  

My brother, Carolyn's husband, was at work.  Receiving the call from her, he dropped everything and found her at another point on the lake, bringing her back for a reunion with family.  Jimmie was taken to the emergency room for his leg. 

I remember my mother, who could always come up with a lovely meal at the drop of a hat, this time throwing on the table whatever she saw in the refrigerator and cupboard - tuna, pinto beans, canned pineapple.  It all hit the spot!