Dad, wannabe hero

Dad, wannabe hero captures a ferry trip that exposes the gap between myth and reality of fatherhood. In August 1995, our family sailed from Martha's Vineyard to Cape Cod as Hurricane Felix sent towering waves. The bow pitched violently, and I, a self‑described landlubber, decided to step up as hero. Motion sickness followed, and I ended up barfing blueberries into the wind. My wife and kids watched, and I felt the burden of steadiness slip away. We reached land hours later, and I remained unsettled, knowing I’d failed. The memory sticks with me as a reminder that courage can be imperfect.