The Flying Flag

The Flying Flag

I stood atop the deck of the ferry as the wind gently played with my hair, my gaze lost somewhere along the horizon. I gracefully leaned against the railing and sipped my tiny cup of cappuccino. My dress flowed beautifully behind me and I knew that I was perfectly poised for an adventure.

It was my first ferry ride and excitement was clamoring to burst out of me in an unladylike squeal. Determined to play it cool and not look like a tourist, a slight smiled tugged at the corners of my mouth. I took another sip of cappuccino to hide the smirk, my pinky finger raised in dainty perfection. Yes indeed, it was going a glorious day!

The jolt of the ferry pulling away snapped me out of my daydream. It truly was my first ferry ride, but there was no hiding the fact that I was a tourist. Nine of us piled out of the two vehicles we had driven on the ferry and our first stop was the bathrooms.

We soon made our way up to the top deck where the wind did indeed play with my hair. However, it was far from gentle! We would get storms later in the day and the sky had begun to darken and the wind whipped across the open waters.

It was a challenge to keep my hat on my head and my knee-length dress where it belonged while taking pictures of absolutely everything. But I’m a photographer dadgummit, I wasn’t about to let a little wind get the best of me! (Though in hindsight the dress probably wasn’t a very good choice for a ferry ride.)

I took pictures of the people on the boat (remember, there were nine of us so I got plenty of unflattering photos of everyone – and a few keepers), the pelicans skimming the churning waves, the hordes of seagulls who all thought they were going to get a free lunch, and the boat itself.

The very tallest point on the ferry was an American flag. Seagulls circled and pelicans rode the wind currents as the flag whipped in the wind, flowing out full and proud.

The perfect combination of salty ocean air, open waves, the gentle sway of the boat, and the flag flying high all made for a very patriotic moment for me.

I didn’t think my fellow passengers would appreciate it if I burst into a rousing rendition of “God Bless America” – mostly because my singing sounds more like the screeching seagulls than singing – so I took a few photographs to remember the occasion.

As fireworks still sound outside my windows and families wrap up their Independence week celebrations I thank God for the freedoms I have in American and the freedom I have in Jesus Christ. God bless you and yours as you look to Him for freedom of spirit.

I want to hear from you: What has been your most patriotic moment? Let me know in the comments!

And that, my friends, is how I captured The Flying Flag. (Click to Tweet.)

Until next time,

Josie

The Flying Flag – 8×10 Photo Print
by GloryDisplayed