For Slipdigit

Cheers for the pics, Michelle!

 

Michelle-Thanks a bunch for the pictures, very nice of you to share with us. Your Court initiation looked like a lot more fun. It is nice to see that some Naval traditions are still held whether military or civilian. I've told my wife that just once I'd like to go to sea and not cross the quarter deck saluting the fantail and then the OOD. but, knowing my luck I'd do it out of habit.
Take care,
Salty

 

No problem, Jeff. I figured that as they were completely G-rated the pics would be okay.

They were pretending to do surgery - can't remember this long later how that was explained - but it involved me having tomato sauce, whipped cream, sausages, and lord knows what else that felt revolting rubbed on my stomach. I gave them heart failure though as I could stay under water for a long time, and did so while I rinsed some of the gunk out before I surfaced! Of course it didn't cross my mind that they would be worried above the water.

The ship left Los Angeles, through Hawaiian Islands, the Samoan Islands, Tahittian Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, and ended in Sydney. Mostly at days at sea (which I loved) and 1 day at each stop where I sometimes had tours booked and often wandered on my own. It was at the end of the cruise that I found out that when I wandered on my own, several elderly couples used to follow me at about 1 block behind in order that they ensured I was safe. I think if I'd missed the ship there would have been a mutiny.

I live in the Prairies, and when I get outside the city and can see for miles its the closest I can get to that feeling of peace I found staring out for miles at sea with nothing anywhere else around.

 

Michelle-I know the feeling. At times late at night I would go out onto a sponson or up on the bow or aft to the fantail (depending on what type of ship I was on). All you can hear is the constant hum of the ship and water rushing off the side. Very peaceful and relaxing. Then you'd get some seaman apprentice come looking for you because your division officer can't figure something out on his own, and it all goes away. But, for those few moments when it was just you, the moon and the sea it was great.

Take care,
Bill