Saltwater Heals Everything

In 1998, my grandfather found and restored the hull of a 1970 Aquasport that had been dumped on his property. My dad often teased him for taking on such an old, bare shell of a boat, claiming he was putting “lipstick on a pig.” Today, my father continues to "put lipstick on the same pig" after inheriting the boat. This half-century-old vessel has become the heart and soul of our family.

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Hunting for lobster has become a generational tradition, beginning with my grandfather and continuing with my dad in his youth, and later with my siblings—mainly my oldest brother, Kenny, who has been lobstering with my dad since he was old enough to put on a snorkel mask and fins. More recently, my dad has taken up the art of stone crabbing.

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When I was little, after any scrape or bruise, my grandfather would tell us, “Saltwater heals everything”—a saying that still rings true and is carried on by my father.

I’m currently working on a (self-published) cookbook and photo book that will take a deep visual dive into the ripples created by this restored boat, which brings together family, saltwater, sunshine, and memories.