I am up at the stalled condo, sitting on a $10 camp chair, for the air conditioning and a swim later. Evenings and early mornings are pleasant on GANNET, but mid-days a bit warm.
The photo was taken as I sipped my drink last evening and listened to music. Actually I sipped two drinks, one for my friend, Michael, who after riding his Burgman 200 motor scooter 3400 miles from the Florida Keys to Niagara Falls and back was involved in a serious accident while routinely riding to his job as a 911 dispatcher in Key West when a car suddenly and inexplicably pulled out in front of him. Michael has been in intensive care and for a while couldn’t have even a drink of water, so I generously drank his tequila and tonic for him.
I am thought inaccurately by some to be brave because I sail small boats alone across oceans. But there are no stupid, foolish, distracted, and/or incompetent drivers out there. Or if there are, there is a lot of space in which to avoid them. By far the most dangerous thing any of us do is drive or ride in motorized vehicles. Plus gas and oil are, along with coal, destroying the planet.
I know that life can change dramatically in the passing of a single wave. Life can also change in many other instants.
Along with Michael’s numerous other friends, I wish him a full recovery.
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I thank Markus, an Estonian commercial fisherman and sailor, for my music on deck the past two evenings. He sent me a link to a YouTube video of Sona Jobarteh, an African singer I had not heard. I watched part of the video and then bought her two albums, FASIYA and MOTHERLAND, from the iTunes store. They are quite different. FASIYA is similar to the music on the video. MOTHERLAND is the score of a film. I like them both very much and will listen to them again in a few hours when I am drinking my and Michael’s drinks on deck.
Markus wrote: Time and again I find myself feeling that beautiful women who are musically talented can create irresistible energy.
Sona Jobarteh is and does.
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From Jay comes a quote from the late Hunter S. Thompson, for which I thank him.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!'"
