Sailor Pride
Friday, September 12, 2003
Sailor Pride
This is the work of a dear friend of mine. We served on the same ship for four long years. I’m feeling weird today, so I thought I’d post something different. I added a little, and did as much as I could to edit this. He’s not the greatest with English and he’ll admit it (much better than you’d get from me). So here it is, in all its glory. Thanks Keith, for everything! You’re in my heart and hopefully we’ll meet again soon. (No, he’s not dead, JEEZ! You people really need to quit being so pessimistic. Keith and his family are just REALLY good friends and we miss ‘em.)
I’m a sailor and I’ve sailed completely around the world. I’ve seen men wallowing in filth, enjoying a simple meal, singing, and joking, having a grand time. I’ve seen people enjoying five star meals in the lap of luxury bitch and complain. I’ve drunk in clubs with such luxuries as you will ever see. I’ve drunk in holes in the wall that would make a garbage man sneer. I’ve seen the Sun set over every time zone in the world. I’ve gotten up to see the Sun rise in those same time zones. I have had friends that didn’t speak English, and I sure didn’t understand their language. Hell, some times I didn’t even know what language they were speaking but we could carry an intelligent conversation till the bar kicked us out at dawn. I guess Sailorese is universal. I’ve talked to a man who spoke the Queen’s English and couldn’t understand a word he said. I’ve been swimming in 4 seas, 2 oceans, 2 gulfs, fjords, channels and places I can’t remember. Some of them I forgot by choice. I’ve seen beaches that clothing was frowned on and been to beaches that you would get arrested for indecent exposure while wearing a Speedo. Guess which one I enjoyed most. I’ve been swimming in water that I’ve had to break the ice to get in. I’ve been swimming in water so warm it felt like a bath. I’ve seen top-notch sailors punished for being 15 minutes late while dirt bags were not even required to work any more. I’ve slept in a hammock under the stars to roll over and order a beer at the bar on the beach for breakfast. I’ve slept in 3 star hotels, waking to an English breakfast to start the day. I’ve seen mothers begging for food holding a dead baby and seen classy women shriek at their fat little boys. I have seen Christmas with family and loved ones, alone in homeport, and alone in countries that considered Christianity to be illegal. I’ve had lepers approach me for money and seen a man in a business suit ask for bus fare. I’ve seen buildings as old as the good old US of A looking as if they were lovingly built last year and seen buildings built a month ago look as if they should be condemned. I’ve seen churches older than the city they were in. These were some pretty old cities. To step into them was to go back in time. To touch walls and marvel at the hands that might have lovingly put that stone there so many years ago. I’ve seen love, lust, hate, murder, and death. I’ve helped a man running from the cops for stealing a bit of food and smiled as I’ve locked and loaded a shotgun. I’ve seen the look on a man’s face when he knows he is caught. I’ve had shipmates to whom I wouldn’t give the time of day and enemies I’d give a pack of cigarettes to. I’ve lost respect for friends and respected a man who might have tried to kill me a day later. I’ve drunk mekong in Thailand and Dom Perignon in London. I’ve seen marriages of loving couples break apart. I’ve seen couples that should never be together withstand the test of time. I’ve been a tee-totaller and a drunkard. I’ve fought fires and boarded ships. I’ve been dressed for full combat and wore shorts and an Aloha shirt at sea. I’ve seen water rations for 34 days (that’s one shower in 34 days). I’ve seen four hours of shore leave after four months at sea. I’ve seen women so beautiful they’d make you cry. I’ve seen women who, as pretty as they were, couldn’t get a rise out of a thermometer. I’ve seen the most beautiful this world has to offer and the most ugly. Hell, I’ve seen the proverbial goats, doing it in the market place and a 24 carat gold baby pacifier. I’ve seen the faces of three hundred shipmates, wondering what happened, the day of the attacks and I’ve seen the faces of three hundred allies bowing their heads with compassion at our plight. Of all the things I’ve done, of all the things I’ve seen I have no regrets except three. Having to say good-by to a friend. Having to leave a loved one behind. Having to miss half my son’s life. I’m a sailor and I’ve sailed completely around the world.