Aye Mates, sorry Ol' Cappy hasn't put more up since I've started this fangled blog thing! I felt some down time in the Northern climes was necessary for the Capster so I shoved off for some time around large bodies of fresh water. You see, June was a tough month... A month where I lost a couple of old shipmates. Now understand that no matter how well intentioned its tough over time to keep in touch with people you've come to respect and become friends with especially when your making your way through the adventure that is life. You're chasing around trying to make a living, raising a family and casting your sail into the breeze of the 7 seas. Ye tries to keep track of `em but time and distance catch up...You settle for small snippets of news and then even that is months, even years old and not very accurate.
In the span of 10 days in June I lost 2 men that had been close to me in my young formative years. Pop and Paulie. They didn't know each other but both had a profound impact on a young pup full of piss and salt water.
Pop was a gentle man who, in his younger days, was a trick rider on the rodeo circut. He married late in life and accepted the mantle of being a dad to 3 young girls. Pop kept a roof over their heads, walked each down the aisle and worked hard well into his 70's. He revelled in being a grandfather and had 125 acres with an old farm house on it that, in his later years was his respite from a severely more complex and PC world than the common sense days that forged his heart and mind as a restless young buck becoming a young man.
As gentle as he was Pop was also a man's man, a hunter with a keen eye who liked a good bottle of brew, or 3, maybe a shot of Peppermint Schnapps and had a crazy little giggle that would make ye smile as he spun a tall tale, the bulk of which were mostly true! He taught me about the land and giving back...Of acqaintences versus good friends...And respect. Pop introduced me to other men he considered friends and they always looked out for one another. We spent long hours at that old farm, cutting wood, hunting, laughing...Enjoying each others company and talking about life. Oh not in those specific terms but thats what it really came back to and I was a willing student.
The years went on and it came time for me to go. We both knew that time would come, it had been spoken about somewhere in our dialog but neither wanted to acknowledge it. I set sail on a new part of my life but I always thought and spoke fondly of Pop.
Nearly 15 years have passed since I last saw Pop, he was older and becoming infirm. Though the twinkle in his eyes had dimmed and his giggle was less quick we none the less still felt our solid bond. I hugged him mightily when our visit ended. I guess we both knew that that would be our last time together. It angers me that it was such a long, slow course that finally took Pop to God's arms. He suffered much the last 5 years or so and there was no good reason for that to happen to such a good and gentle man but then there are no answers to the Lord's plan.
I know that now, freed of pain and this life's burdens, he's probably walking the farm with his brother Charlie, Grandpa and his old dog Sam. Jim...May you eternally be in God's embrace... Rest gently now my old friend.
Paulie was one of my first battle hardened captains. He took a chance on a young, snot nosed salt (me) who was brash with confidence and potential. When you worked with Paulie you became one of "Paulie's Boys" literally becoming one of his family, welcome in his home and on his boat. While not large in stature it was the size of his heart and the lessons that he passed on that were invaluable. We lovingly, and respectfully, nicknamed him the "Crazy Greek" and he never failed to live up to the label.
He always seemed to be harder on Ol' Cappy than with the others. I happened to mention that to his delightful wife Joan, her reply was one of the highest compliments I ever received, she said "That's because you remind him allot of himself when he was your age...He wants to make sure you do things right!" He taught, I learned...Work hard then you can play hard. I made note on how Paulie lead men and women, how he got people to give that extra effort and then after we had achieved our goals, how to be gracious about it. Yes, Paulie was special, my mentor, my friend.
It was inevitable that Ol' Cappy would move on to other places and jobs, Paulie had prepared me well. It had been nearly 25 years since I'd last seen him and not quite that many since I'd gotten any word about him but when it came the message was sad and final. Paulie had been in a bad way the last few years battling Parkinsons and it finally claimed him. He died at an age where people say it was too soon for him to go and selfishly I would tend to agree but if I would have seen him in pain and suffering...Well, that's just a whole different lot.
I could go on about both these fine men but I think it might be good for Ol' Cappy to let their memories rest for a little while since I've shead my tears. Let me paraphrase a small passage I learned on my journeys: "May you always ride the wings of the morning and dwell in the uppermost parts of the sea..."
Arrr...Cappy Out.
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