By Michael Carr - Standing was the only option, but I was now falling asleep standing up. I would drift off, my knees would buckle, and I would suddenly wake up as I collapsed in my sailboat’s cockpit. Staying awake for more than 20 minutes at a time was becoming more and more difficult. The fog was thick and unrelenting. There was no wind, just fog, which condensed on my … [Read more...]
Carr: Pride of Baltimore
By Michael Carr - We all respected Jan Miles, captain of the schooner Pride of Baltimore. His vessel was faster, sleeker, bigger, and better funded than the rest of us who sailed schooners. He most likely had the best coffee too. He and “Pride” won every schooner race and Pride was the star attraction at “Schooner Fests”, as well as other tall ship events. We were the … [Read more...]
A Sea of Sand: Like a Kingfisher Flashing Across the Pool
By Michael Carr - Joint Base Balad Iraq is surrounded by sand. When you drive out its gates, all you see is sand. Sand blows onto the road, it consumes your horizon in all directions, it fills your nose, ears, and mouth. It jams your weapons. Sand reflects the bright sun, making the wearing of sunglasses a constant necessity. So necessary everyone carries spares. It occurred … [Read more...]
Carr: You Have Illegally Disposed of Garbage
By Michael Carr - We were all beyond exhausted. Muscle memory and caffeine were keeping us going. And now I was certainly going to jail when all I had wanted to do was wash the sticky, smelly mud from the Gulf of Mexico off our tug’s deck. “Really?” I thought to myself. This guy wearing a uniform, with a badge, weapon, and big radio on his belt was going to arrest me. “OK, … [Read more...]
Down Comes the Lamp Post: Your Past is Always Part of You
By Michael Carr - Portsmouth Virginia’s Inner Harbor seawall is lined with lampposts spaced about 25 feet apart. They are ornate, built of steel and concrete, and stand at the edge of the seawall, where you can use them for support when you peer over the pier’s edge to admire boats tied up along the wall. At night their light provides a warm glow and reflects off the Elizabeth … [Read more...]