A Sailor's Phone Call
Last evening, our son called us from overseas. It is always good to hear his voice and when he's several times zones away and it's been a while since we had the chance to talk (and not knowing when the next time will be), it's a treat. Like Vianetta ice cream when we were kids, it's special because it doesn't happen often. In the background were voices of many other sailors, all clambering to get aboard the ship. I could envision a gaggle of sailors, a flock of seamen, a herd of Swabbies all milling around on the pier, savoring the last moments of solid ground before hiking up the gangway to the steel-hulled behemoth that will again be their 24-7 home for the next leg of their tour, living, working, resting, playing together while doing their various and diverse jobs. This call was a little different. He wasn't telling us about the sights, sounds and smells of the city where they enjoyed liberty. It wasn't a food review, or stories about what h...