In Retrospect
I have been looking through my journal entries during my time at sea and found another one to throw out here:
Looking back over these past four months, these long hard, glorious four months I’ve realized I’ve learned a few things. I am not the same man now, I was at the beginning.
I have seen things. Things that will forever be forged in my mind. I have met people. I have walked down main streets and back streets. I have worked, my hands are calloused, my muscles ache, I’m exhausted . . . ok, now I need to do my sea project. I have crossed the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific (three times). I have transited the Suez Canal, the Straits of Malacca, the Kanmon Canal, the Panama Canal, and the C & D Canal. I feel as if I have done more living in the past four months than I have in the past 21 years.
- I will fight, with a vengeance, any one who speaks down upon the “lower class.” I have had the honor of working, sweating, eating, and laughing along side some of the greatest men in the world. And no one will ever remember their names. No one but me. Larry. David. “Andy.” “Fort.” Ed. “Tony.” Lee. These men are high school dropouts (some have their diploma). These men are of broken families. These men are tattooed and pierced and “dirty.” And these men are the same ones that will give you their right arm with even thinking of having to ask for it. There is no one as compassionate, humorous, hard working, and thoughtful as these men are. Through all of the hardships in their lives, none of it can bring them down. They’re alive and working hard and that’s good enough.
- I have garnered a new found confidence these past four months. I have gotten lost in third world countries and been forced to find my way. There is no greater adventure than reaching an intersection and someone amongst your small posse shouting out, “Right!” “Straight!” “What’s over there?” I have walked into countless stores and the proverbial music stops and the faces all turn to see who just strolled in. I love it. I have always enjoyed talking with people, contrary to what many think. The “problem” was that I have always been naturally quiet, no, not shy. Quiet. Now, I can strike up a conversation with just about anyone. I can look the Chief Engineer, who doesn’t seem to be fond of deck cadets, in the eye and say good morning with a smile.
Looking back over these past four months, these long hard, glorious four months I’ve realized I’ve learned a few things. I am not the same man now, I was at the beginning.
I have seen things. Things that will forever be forged in my mind. I have met people. I have walked down main streets and back streets. I have worked, my hands are calloused, my muscles ache, I’m exhausted . . . ok, now I need to do my sea project. I have crossed the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific (three times). I have transited the Suez Canal, the Straits of Malacca, the Kanmon Canal, the Panama Canal, and the C & D Canal. I feel as if I have done more living in the past four months than I have in the past 21 years.
- I will fight, with a vengeance, any one who speaks down upon the “lower class.” I have had the honor of working, sweating, eating, and laughing along side some of the greatest men in the world. And no one will ever remember their names. No one but me. Larry. David. “Andy.” “Fort.” Ed. “Tony.” Lee. These men are high school dropouts (some have their diploma). These men are of broken families. These men are tattooed and pierced and “dirty.” And these men are the same ones that will give you their right arm with even thinking of having to ask for it. There is no one as compassionate, humorous, hard working, and thoughtful as these men are. Through all of the hardships in their lives, none of it can bring them down. They’re alive and working hard and that’s good enough.
- I have garnered a new found confidence these past four months. I have gotten lost in third world countries and been forced to find my way. There is no greater adventure than reaching an intersection and someone amongst your small posse shouting out, “Right!” “Straight!” “What’s over there?” I have walked into countless stores and the proverbial music stops and the faces all turn to see who just strolled in. I love it. I have always enjoyed talking with people, contrary to what many think. The “problem” was that I have always been naturally quiet, no, not shy. Quiet. Now, I can strike up a conversation with just about anyone. I can look the Chief Engineer, who doesn’t seem to be fond of deck cadets, in the eye and say good morning with a smile.
posted by midshipman at 22.3.06
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home