![]() My back is feeling much better after much rest, physical therapy, and a cortisone injection in the middle of October. And I've managed not to strain it while moving aboard the boat over the past few weeks. We are officially living on Dovka. It’s a big move and a major adjustment. Four people and all their stuff on a 35-foot boat. When we first brought our gear, and clothing, and food, and school supplies, and books, and, and, and aboard we were living amidst piles of stuff. It’s better now that most of our gear is stowed away in the many nooks and crannies to be found aboard. And it is truly amazing how much can be crammed onto a boat this size. It’s starting to feel like home. Sleeping in our bunks is becoming more natural. Cooking in the small galley is becoming more second nature. Lauren has managed to bake multiple loaves of bread and the other night I made beef stroganoff in the small Instant pot which was a big hit with the crew. We’re ticking off the many small jobs that need doing before departure and while the list will never be empty, it is getting shorter with few big items on it. It’s exciting, scary, nerve wracking, reassuring, and somewhat unbelievable to me that we’re on the precipice of taking the first passage that will begin our journey south aboard Dovka.
1 Comment
Letting go can be painful itself and we’ve been doing a lot of it lately. We’re letting go of stuff. Letting go of familiar routines. Letting go of a house we only recently bought and moved into. And letting go of our "Plan A" cruising timeline.
For now, I rest my body and limit trip prep to ordering gear, reviewing cruising guides of Mexico, writing, and most importantly, practicing patience and going with the flow — a skill I imagine will be crucial out on the water. Stay tuned…
A great sentiment. But, much is lost in translation. The dictionary didn't, or couldn't, conveyed the full meaning of the word. The word dovka (דווקא) -- or davka as it's sometimes spelled -- is often used in modern Hebrew, but is borrowed from Aramaic. It's a notoriously difficult word to translate. And I've read there really is no English equivalent. But let's try! In a 2012 Haaretz newspaer article, Shoshana Kordova wrote: In its Aramaic source, the word ‘davka’ taught that one must be precise about things; but Yiddish imbued the word with its useful meaning, which we know today, of ‘thus and no other way’ or ‘doing [something] davka.’” An easy way to think of the meaning of dovka in modern Hebrew is meticulously or precisely, but often in an ironic or sarcastic way. However, it can also mean "in spite of," or "to spite." I find examples are the most helpful, so here are a few more: "Don't go there, that place is always crowded." No matter the exact translation, I still think it's a fitting name for a boat. Plus, I'm not in a mood to provoke Neptune. |
Archives
March 2024
Categories |
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Directnic