Daddy's big toe, those coral formations, the jello-like clear water--I remembered them as I sketched. Yesterday, I made a quick copy of Isao Uchihara's beautiful painting of Manza Mo, one of Okinawa's coral shores. God sent along his works to whisper encouragement to me--from his bio, I surmised he would be in his 70's. Maybe I could draw like that one day, but for now, I was happy making this, a bookmark.
Oh--I didn't tell you the reason for the "Don't let go," did I? When the family went to the beach, sometimes Daddy told us areas near coral reefs seem shallow but sometimes drop off into steep cliffs, and you can find yourself in water over your head. The only way we girls--we couldn't swim then--were allowed to go there was if we promised to hold onto Daddy's feet while he swam on his back.
You can say it was like slow body surfing and water skiing for a little girl like me, being towed around like that!
To me, Daddy was a strong swimmer (I didn't know he'd taught himself), and if a wave or shark or jellyfish came and put me in danger, I knew Daddy would come and save me. So I was all right, as long as I held onto him. No matter what, I didn't let go of Daddy's foot.
I can just cling, Even Jacob, whose hip was out of joint, could manage to do that. He saw a "big wave coming", and said, unless I know I have Your help, I'm sunk! And he'd held on with all his might.
