I claim to be an original, but have expressed doubt as to whether I am a successful experiment. No more.
Google alerts me when I am mentioned on the Internet. As an aside, it is both interesting and disturbing that they have so much capacity that they offer this as a free service.
On Saturday I received two alerts. One led to an article about me that I knew was coming in LATITUDE 38, but the other to the personal website of one EmJae Lightningbug—I did not make that up, but perhaps she did—where she writes: “Live passionately even if it kills because something is going to kill you anyway.” Webb Chiles. I found this quote on the back of a tea packet.”
Note that they dropped one ‘you’. Perhaps there wasn’t room.
I do not believe in letting others define me, but this is more than a tipping point.
What other solo sailor is stolen from and quoted on tee-shirts, greeting cards, coffee cups, paintings, photographs, countless websites that collect sayings of sailing and the sea, ads for women’s shoes, and now tea bags? What other writer is quoted on all those?
Obviously I could have made a fortune starting an ad agency, but I had better things to do.
The tea bags are decisive.
I am now officially a successful experiment.
