For those who have learned the artistry of fun and a good life, such as Des Moines own Jim Delvin and Donovan Crosby, this child's prayer seems appropriate; "Lord, if you can't make me into "Superboy" don't worry, I'm having a good time like I am."

Oh, that achieving life's contentment required no more - and maybe it does.

Donovan, also known as "Captain Hardbottom," was so named by his mischievous lady cohorts known as "The Waterland Wenches."

A good sense of humor was demonstrated at a past Waterland Festival when Hardbottom and the Wenches gave Seattle Seafair Pirates a reason for laughter with a challenging fun attack.

Later, during the Seattle Annual Tugboat Races, Hardbottom and his Wenches borrowed Stan Wilkes Classic Yachts, Inc. tugboat, re-naming it temporarily, "The Mighty Tug Ironbark," and entered it in the well-known Seattle race.

"The tug was outfitted with soap bubbles spewing from a fake smokestack, fishing nets were draped over the boat and the aft-deck decorated by two lovely Wenches sipping bubbly.

Dean Martin recordings blasted from the boom box. Capt. Hardbottom was dressed in traditional yellow hat fisherman garb with pipe in hand.

"We took ninth place out of a field of nine entries, coming in two minutes behind the last tug," he recalls.

Yet, under all that fun and games is a man of extraordinary boat restoration skills and a love for boating almost as big as his love for life adventures.

"Sometimes I feel like I have lived 1,000 lifetimes," Donovan said.

In addition to his Boatwright skills that he draws on to keep Des Moines Marina tenants boats in top shape, he travels in the winter to Florida's Key West and maintains recreational fleets there.

In a project requiring top skills, Donovan worked in Alameda, California, for three years restoring the historic wooden schooner, C.A. Thayer-- a $13 million San Francisco Museum project.

In contrast, that same "Capt. Hardbottom," stopped his trip across the United States to buy materials and quietly repair a neglected old southern cemetery white picket fence. Unknown to Donovan then, this is a final resting place to both Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers.

Donovan's philosophy is: "Try to leave a little wiggle room in life, in case something shows up that you really don't want to miss."

Jim Delvin, another remarkable young citizen of Des Moines, has a heartwarming smile and shared kindness that is a rare commodity in today's world of selfishness and greed.

"Jim is a fine friend and very clever fellow," Donovan said.

As a journeyman carpenter, Delvin constructs everything with heartfelt workman's pride and is excellent with tile. How he has stayed single this long bewilders me.

In 1979, Delvin built a masterful funny boat for the first-ever 1979 Funny Boat Race. He won "The Most Unique Boat" award. It was a sight to behold with both Delvin and Donovan paddling while Lab-mix "Wonderdog" stood on the boat's bow the entire race.

The Funny Boat Race was created and implemented by this writer, as detailed in Des Moines News Aug. 6, 1980 issue.

Reporter Kevin Gunning wrote; "Earline Byers, who was responsible for the whole thing, later told me she had become sick of the same old things at every carnival or fair she'd seen, blatant commercialism, spectator lack of involvement - so she organized last year's Funny Boat Race and promises to make it bigger next year.

"Give people a challenge and they will be creative," Byers, remarked. (Maybe with a few wet bottoms)

Thirty-one years later Jim and Donovan are still amazing friends. The remarkable life values they've set for themselves and gentle caring for young and old alike is significant. Family comes first. Mothers and fathers are loved.

While fun memories with Jim and Donovan remain tied to my Funny Boat Races, it is their caring and gentlemen attitude towards people of all ages that reveals their remarkable and rewarding grasp on life.

And perhaps for all of us, a four- year-old child's prayer that ends; "Forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

Today's Thought: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. (Eleanor Roosevelt)