This whole ordeal is gut-wrenching and I cannot stop thinking of these boys. A fine friend of mine grew up in Titusville/Rockledge and every time I see the pic of that boy holding up the cobia, I see my buddy Dan at that age!
Independent and adventurous are just a couple of words that come to mind....exactly the way I was at that age and not to bound by an extended list of rules or reservations!
Like so many others growing up, I hunted, I fished, I camped, I explored and rarely had a float plan and often did things in the outdoors without an adult knowing where I was or exactly when I would be home.
My 7 yo asked me about it yesterday and I explained to her in detail what has happened and in all likelyhood what there fate is at this point. She listened, I got choked up thinking about it and it brings tears to my eyes as a parent right now thinking of how alone, lonely and scared those boys are/were.
I had my first boat on the May River when I was 10 yo and fished all over the damn place. Offshore wasn't my thing back then but I had buddies who did venture to the ledge with a compass, loran, and jerry jugs in the back of a 17 foot boat!
Although the parents said these boys weren't allowed to venture out of the inlet, that is what boys like myself did at that age, you bent the rules a little bit to be adventurous and it developed upon your self confidence as an outdoorsman.
I will teach my children safety and give them boundaries but I will never crush their adventurous spirit!
God speed boys!
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