feather2pixels

I am floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Here are a few observations after two days at sea:

The ocean is huge. I was expecting it to be big, but this is ridiculous. At least one of our two 8500 horsepower Enterprise r5 engines has been chugging away continuously but we have barely cleared U.S. waters. Maybe truly understanding the human scale of the Pacific Ocean requires experiencing the seventeen days it takes to cross it. I am immune to sea sickness. The sway is comforting, like a mother rocking me to sleep in her arms. This is also an example of why the sea is great for people who like metaphors. Or smilies. Anyways, I always feel tired here. And it’s hard to run on treadmills, especially since I am not good at running on treadmills that are not floating over ocean swells to begin with.

Lots of common sayings come from the sea. Like “passing muster,” for example: we all have a muster station on the ship and we take muster every day. It’s just like attendance, but for the sea.

I am the most useless person on board the ship. Except for perhaps the doctors, who have done nothing but treat seasick cadets who should grow some balls and ease their minds a good metaphor–it’s all mental. I have been told that I will become more popular once people get smart to the fact that I am the guy that sends pictures back home. Still, my job is ridiculous and I feel ridiculous taking it seriously. I have been shy about asserting myself in a reporterly type of way. Also, I need a fact checker.

The ocean is blue. Incredibly blue. Like paint.