Boat

Boat | Trinidad, WA | October 2019

Despite dumbed-down explanations of how boats float, the phenomenon of buoyancy remains a puzzle. Things that should sink float, while things that should float don’t. A ski boat weighing a ton skims nimbly upriver. But I toss in a hardwood stick and it goes straight to the bottom. What gives? Social buoyancy has similar characteristics. At cocktail parties I expect my lightweight banter to keep me afloat, but sometimes I’m sunk by my own leaden small talk. Perhaps I’ve overestimated the floatation capabilities of the buffet’s unlimited cheese puffs?