sailor at heart

I was walking past this boat, when I heard an excited voice saying, ” Look at me!” I glanced over and was captivated by the young sailor asking his mom to take a picture. So, like any goodhearted soul, I took out my phone and saved his cuteness.

Later that day, the wife of a friend was being introduced for the first time and she looked me right in the eye and said, “Are you a sailor?”  I thought, “what an odd question” and then I thought, well, I am a sailor at heart. Am I a sailor? I still don’t know the right answer. I never met a boat I didn’t like. I like sailboats a lot. I like sailing. I like being on sailboats. I like the look and design. I have studied nautical terms and know what everything means. I can speak knowledgeably about the bow, stern, lines, draft, lufting, docking, heeling, gusting, and the like. When I am given an order, I know which way to go, what to do and when to ask more questions. I have not been hit by the boom or had any major accidents.

So, am I a sailor? I would have been a good candidate for the military. I was smart and did well on all those aptitude tests that they used to recruit new members.  I wanted to join the Navy, but that was not so cool for girls in my day. I think the Coast Guard would have been perfect. I could have lived by the sea, worn a lot of white, and rescued others. Some of that is real close to the medical field- just not as many good locations by the water.

I like everything that has a compass, chart, anchor, sail, or nautical emblem. I like navy blue and white- looks very sharp together. I have sailboat rugs and dishes. I owned a pair of bell bottom pants with sailboats and button flap closures as a teenager.  Surely, I must be a sailor? I have wondered if it was in my DNA. My ancestors were seamen.

Of course, I don’t like rough seas. I still tie my knots backwards, but I can do it with a few more extra attempts.  I can’t figure out which way the wind is blowing, so my natural tendency is to turn the boat the wrong way when I am told “turn into the wind” to prepare to

jibe and tack.  I have gotten queasy three times in 5 years. I cannot swim and don’t like to wear life jackets. Does any of that disqualify me?

I have followed the golden rules of the Captain. 1. Stay on the boat  ( don’t fall overboard) 2. Avoid all collisions ( use care when steering) 3. Report all sightings ( make sure he avoids collisions and stays on the boat).

Well, from the evidence presented here, I would conclude “I am a sailor!” Next time someone asks, instead of me puzzling and saying “well, I’ve been sailing for 5 years”, I will say YES, I AM A SAILOR- a true sailor at heart!