Arrrr...
A Pirate's Life for Me

Once upon a time...

I lived and worked on a replica of the Golden Hinde, the ship that Francis Drake sailed around the world in in the late 16th century. When we were in dock, I would give tours to schoolchildren and answer the other visitors' questions. Unless I was on a work crew, in which case I would be scraping or repainting the woodwork, tarring the rigging, cleaning, polishing, or doing any one of the thousands of other things needed to keep a wooden vessel afloat and prettified all "shipshape, and Bristol fashion." When we were at sea, I was puking my guts over the side while at my station at the helm or on watch -- miserable but exhilarated at the same time.

I left for love, but still love and miss her, my first "real" ship.