What I Learned Sailing the High Seas….

Okay, so maybe I didn’t actually do any of the sailing, and maybe the Caribbean Sea isn’t exactly the high seas, but I did learn some stuff!

I learned Tony is a fabulous navigator….

 …and  splendid “Master and Commander”.  (He preferred we call him that, rather that just “Skipper” or “Captain”.)

As a student of the seas, I also learned very important terminology that I knew, but didn’t know I knew.

For instance, turns out that “Three Sheets to the Wind” is a sailing term.  Some of the ropes on the boat are called sheets, they all come together at the bow of the boat.  If they are loose, or “to the wind”, you basically have no control over the vessel.   Thus a fitting metaphor for someone who might enjoy a bit too much of the local rum.

Second, “Bitter End” is a nautical term.  Who knew?  It means the very end of a rope that is tied to the the iron cleat (or bitt) attached to the boat.

Third, “mind your P’s and Q’s”.  In the days when sailors were bit more salty, local tavern keepers would keep an account on a board behind the bar, of the pints and quarts the sailors enjoyed until payday came around.  If by chance an innkeeper were unscrupulous, he might take advantage of an inebriated sailor by adding an additional mark next to a patron’s “P” or “Q”.   Therefore the sailors would caution one another to “mind their P’s and Q’s”.

 Jim and Jo Anna make excellent fellow yachtsmen!

Finally, I learned it’s actually possible to hear enough Jimmy Buffet and Zac Brown music.   But I could never tire of the sunsets!

At the risk of sounding mushy, I’m so grateful to so many who have made this Summer possible, my Mom, for taking care of little Coco while we have scampered around and us when we are under her roof.   To our other family and friends who have made time for us in their very busy lives.  And to God for His amazing creation!

Now, we are back to London for a few weeks.  Then if all goes as planned to the land of Oz in December!