People frequently form powerful and deep attachments to inanimate objects as demonstrated by the 2000 film ‘Cast Away? starring Tom Hanks.
Just as Hanks was inconsolable over the loss of his only friend on the deserted island, a volleyball named Wilson, so Craig Belmonte is upset by the recent loss of his favorite kayak paddle at Lakeville Lake in Addison Township.
‘That was my Wilson,? said the 52-year-old Attica Township resident, who paddles Lakeville Lake at least three times a week from the time the ice melts to when it starts forming again.
Belmonte left his paddle down by the boat ramp at the DNR access site along Lakeville Rd. on the morning of Saturday, June 7.
As he was preparing to leave, Belmonte got distracted from his usual packing routine when he helped a former co-worker launch his boat.
He left his trusty Gray Owl wooden paddle propped against a sign at the boat launch that reads, ‘Slow No Wake 100 ft. Any Shore.?
Some people would undoubtedly tell Belmonte to just get over it and buy a new paddle. But that’s easier said than done when the special nature of this object is considered.
‘I’ve had that paddle ever since I started kayaking eight or nine years ago,? he said.
It’s the only paddle Belmonte’s used during his quest to kayak every river in Michigan. ‘I’m probably about two-thirds of the way through and that paddle’s been with me every step of the way,? he said.
The paddle was with him when he spent six days kayaking 165 miles of the Manistee River from northwest of Grayling to Lake Michigan.
‘I’ve been through a lot with that thing,? said Belmonte, who’s built 10 kayaks.
Over the years, the paddle’s taken quite a beating and had to be refurbished a few times, but Belmonte’s never thought about pitching it. ‘It’s like a worn out pair of shoes you don’t want to get rid of,? he said.
But it wasn’t just the time together that made the paddle so special, it was also the personalized artwork Belmonte painted on its blades.
On the right side is an abstract image of his wife and two sons with Belmonte’s hands ‘as kind of a rainbow shielding? them.
‘It’s kind of an artsy-fartsy expression, but that’s what it means,? he said. ‘You really can’t tell to look at it unless I explain it.?
On the left side is a pair of sunglasses with a ‘wacky, smiley face.?
Both sides represent different aspects of Belmonte’s life and personality.
‘There’s a goofball side of me and a serious side that’s got to take care of the family,? he explained. All the markings are painted with a bright dayglow-orange.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any photos of the paddle or himself with it.
Anyone with information regarding the paddle’s whereabouts is asked to call Belmonte at (810) 245-0431.