Save the Ship!

Well, I am back from my trip to Spain. I had several dreams while I was there. The dream I will share here now will be the most interesting. The dream takes place in some isolated bay, on some remote island, far away up north. I am riding a bicycle down a dirt road around to a finger point of land on it's far side. I realize I need to reach the opposite side of the bay quickly there is no time. I must go across! So I ride my bike lightening quick over the water. The water is deep, but I am peddling so fast, that I do not sink. I make it to the far shore and dry out high up on a scenic overlook.

Suddenly, it becomes winter, the bay is frozen over. I look out onto the bay and I see dozens of vehicles racing out over the ice. There are pick-up trucks, mini-vans and cars of every make and model. The drivers and passengers are former shipmates who have served aboard the decommissioned U. S. Coast Guard Cutter STORIS. The cutter was once the "Queen of the Fleet", while she served on active duty in Kodiak, Alaska. She was a veteran of World War Two. She was retired to the U.S. Navy's mothball fleet in 2006. There are efforts currently on going to try to rescue her from being scrapped and to turn the fine historic ship into a museum.

My old shipmates, in my dream, are racing across the ice to rescue her. She is unmanned and in danger of going aground. The old girl served us so nobly in life. It is out of love and loyalty that they wish to save her from destruction and so ignoble end.

Many of the vehicles are falling through the ice and sinking. Some are powering through slush and others are approaching STORIS and soon will reach her. I am watching all this from high on the scenic overlook. I cheer them on and I am sad for those who did not make it. I wake up at this point.

I have been watching the saga of my former shipmates try to rescue STORIS in real life for years now. It has been an emotional rollercoaster filled at times with hope and despair. The drama has still not come to any conclusion and continues. The dream, I am sure, is a manifestation of all our hopes and fears. A dramatization of what we are all thinking and feeling about the situation.

Sailors are the most superstitious of all people and all professions. STORIS is not a mere inanimate object. She is like a mother to the men and women who served with her. Siblings will often rally if a flesh and blood mother is in peril. The same applies when it comes to sailors and the affection they have for their steel mother and ship. Whatever fate eventually awaits for STORIS her children will want to love and honour her, of that, there will be no doubt.