This afternoon, aboard Woodwind II, we sailed with a crew of fun folks from a DC PR firm. They held a fashion show and a talent contest aboard. Our crewmate handsome Matt, fresh off the runways of Milan, warmed up the action. He strutted down the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel Dock catwalk, donning the latest in safety fashion, the USCG Approved Type I PFD. Yahduh-dahdaah! Orange is in this year, if you have not heard.
Our guest, Andrew, won the fashion show. He was sporting his freshest yachty attire: topsiders he received for Christmas, his middle school blazer, and a homemade ascot! The rest of the fashion was less like the Village People, and actually quite attractive for a nautical show- but who wants to see pictures of that?!
The talent show featured David, a graduate of St. Johns in Annapolis! He recited a poem that I’ve always dug as an anthem to fulfilling the itch of life. Check it out:
“Do not go gentle into that good night.”
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
After bearing off the wind, the cold front started approaching the Annapolis harbor. I was waiting all day for it’s arrival, and was soothed by the cool breeze. We spend a lot of time outdoors, all day really. Generally, I do not live indoors, but I always look forward to nature’s air conditioning!
We struck sails, stayed dry, and returned early to our dock at the mouth of Market Slip. The view of the lightning and clouds was dramatic!
