The Merchant Marine Express

And to those who stop by or inquire to what my blog is all about, I thank you. During my early years of upbringing, I’ve been fortunate that my parents, along with my grandfather, Ronnie Kemper, have influenced me in being the slightly eccentric person as I am today. You might find me cutting it up with folks at the nearby park, grocery store, or while walking the dog, down the tree lined street within the neighborhood. For I am not just here to chatter, but to also keep a good ear as I listen intently to your stories and interact and laugh or be serious.

I work a solitude life, with the swooshing of sea waves only to be muted from the drones of the engines that might imply a continuous mechanical conversation. Otherwise, the Able Seaman who’s been assigned to stand Watch alongside me is the only other conversationalist within the immediate isolated domain on the bridge for those eight hours of the day.

A Watch standing Mate, may or may not be fortunate to pick their ideal watchstander, whether it be lookout or helmsman. Each trip, the lottery prize might be an AB which is assigned that is a hardworking,compassionate,communicative,kind, and attentive individual whom you stand the entire four month trip with.

The opposite may be reality; A new AB, whom you can’t trust, who can’t steer, and who may never speak to you during those long four hour watch periods. Nonetheless, a job is to be done, and the essence of good seamanship still is the pronounced mantra by which all mariners live by.

Weeks or days may unfold, before you find out that a fellow mate or assistant engineer worked on the same ship as you, just weeks prior to your term or that their wife attended a class at a college whom your brother was an instructor. The realization that someone closeby might have more in common than you think. At the end of this four month trip, I’m chomping at the bits to find a great opportunity and mingle with family and friends, once I am back on the beach.

Well, In recent days, I’ve initiated a conversation with a fellow citizen of Lexington after noticing how nice of an antique their motorcycle portrayed. Also,while eating lunch at a local establishment, I was approached by a young man who asked if I was an LA Dodgers fan or had any connection to Los Angeles indicated by the cap I was wearing. I nodded yes to both inquiries followed by a brief friendly dialogue. In both instances, they’ve just left California or have lived awhile back in familiar parts of the Golden State that I grown accustomed to. In such an evidently small world, I could not believe that I would run into someone within such a small town as Lexington,Michigan. This town, however, is a Mecca for weary travelers looking for scenic beauty a Great Lake such as Lake Huron could provide.

These days of modernistic Individualism, may defy what was once the norm of sparking up meaningful and non intrusive conversation. In this decade into the new millennium, our alertness to others around us, and keeping our defensiveness in check as the media has all but ingrained our heads with headlines of perpetrators and villians who might be portrayed by anyone out in the world and has drawn a napping blanket on most of us. Not just anyone is allowed into our solitude, or possible eager-to-please, lifestyles.

I challenge you to call out a brief “Hello!”, to that someone in line at the supermarket or post office line whom you might vaguely recall as being a neighbor or someone you’ve seen recently. Bring over a glass of lemonade to share over a short tale with the neighbor who has worked vigorously in toiling the soil in their own backyard. I’m not saying you should give away every truth about yourself or divulge all secrets regarding your family to anyone you come across. But, share a bit about yourself to a fellow neighbor, at appropriate intervals.

Have a great Fourth of July, Independence Day, holiday week and be safe. I’ll try and work in some patriotism while I enjoy the company of others.

Tags: Michigan – Home Port