The History of Hunky Dory

When I was a child, my grandfather Dan—young, vibrant, and a master woodworker—found an old wooden boat at the dump. With his skilled hands and loving care, he brought it back to life, naming her Hunky Dory. That boat became the heart of our bond. He taught me to operate her, care for her, and together we spent magical days on the lake. Just me and Grandpa Dan.

But when I was around 18 (I'm now 28), life threw him a curveball. Financial decisions forced him to quietly sell Hunky Dory. He didn’t tell me, knowing how heartbroken I’d be. When I eventually found out, I told myself: “It’s okay… I’ll find her again one day.”

Over a decade passed. Grandpa Dan grew ill with cancer. I moved from Florida back home to Massachusetts to be near him and support our family. A few weeks ago (April 2025), after an emotional visit with him, my mom and I went for a drive. Something caught my eye—a tarp flapping in the wind. Underneath, I saw the word “Dory.” I leapt from the car and ran into this stranger’s yard. And there she was. Hunky Dory. Our boat.

I dropped to my knees in front of her. I could hardly believe it.

The kind man who owned her came out and shared stories of his own adventures with the boat—and of Grandpa Dan. At first, he offered to sell her for the price he paid. But the next morning, he called me. He told me he’d been up all night thinking, and because he had no grandchildren of his own, he wanted to give Hunky Dory back to me—for free—in honor of Grandpa Dan.

A few days later, I brought her home.

My grandfather, mostly bedridden by then, was facing the window in his chair. I went to sit beside him while my mom pulled Hunky Dory into view. He turned to me, eyes wide. “What is that?” he mouthed. “You know what it is,” I said. “It’s Hunky Dory.”

He looked back with the same spark I remembered from our days on Pleasant Lake. Though he couldn’t speak, he told me everything I needed to know.

Two weeks later, Grandpa Dan passed away—peacefully, in that very chair, facing the window, on a beautiful morning.

Now, I’ve made a promise: to restore Hunky Dory in his honor and teach the next generation—my siblings’ kids, my future children—the joy, patience, and love that Grandpa Dan poured into that boat and into me.