Rigging for the Future

Good morning everyone. Well we did it. Topmasts are up. And yesterday was a very long day. The crew was rigging until 8 o’clock last night and was pooped by the end. They worked incredibly hard all day. But given today’s forecast I think we can be glad for the work we did. We still have halyards to rig today but nothing too crazy. The goal is to have awnings set before the day is over and to start work sprucing up passenger cabins.

Jim Dugan took some great shots of Becki aloft. Notice her clipping in. My answer to the annual question of whether to clip in or not is pretty firm. Don’t clip in for yourself, do it for all those folks back home who love you dearly. Do it for us left behind who will forever be asking ourselves some very tough questions. Imagine if we lived our lives with this thought process in mind. If our every action looked not at how we influence ourselves but those around us after we are long gone. I think of this when I plant fruit trees or sugar maples. I think about this when I limb up pine trees. Someday Sawyer and Courtney’s kids will fell pine trees that provide clear boards and suck on the taps of sugar maples that are growing by the edge of the road. How cool is that?

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

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Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui

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