Lesson 4 WIR, DREAM VOYAGE

As a small child, I couldn't wait until I was old enough to go to sea.
My dream was to travel the world and have the adventure of my life;
while making a living as the captain of a magnificent sailing ship.

After years of preparation, I was aboard a fine sailing ship with a
captain, my hero and mentor; who had many years of experience, knew
how to choose his crew wisely, and could rule with a firm and fair hand.

Sailing to a new land I had never visited before, a trip which takes
weeks to complete is perfect. Full of excitement and being elated about
what treasures would we find, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

Typical for sailors with superstitions, our own high hopes for a safe and
exciting adventure, and for some of us, Prayer; (mixed With good luck),
experience, and the weather on our side; we expected to have the best
time of our lives.

The voyage started out with the usual duties and everyone knew how to
do all the jobs on board, just in case someone was hurt. It didn't take long
for everything to become humdrum and The tediousness of the trip to
cause the crew to get restless and complacent. Because of perfect
weather we were going to arrive at our destination ahead of schedule
causing my disappointment, I wanted to enjoy a much longer seafaring trip.
You know that old saying:
" Be careful what you wish fore."



On this wonderful evening, Our captain retired to his cabin, the First Mate
was in charge, a skeleton crew on watch; while everyone relaxed and enjoyed
the trip, and carefree routine. Sometime after midnight, many people had gone
to bed. All of our chores were completed and everything was perfect, or so we
thought. We became dull in our watchfulness for danger.

No one noticed the change in the weather. The ship started to rock more than
usual, but not enough to raise an alarm.

Suddenly, to everyone's startled surprise there was an ear shattering clap
of thunder, which sounded like hundreds of cannons; and a very huge bright
flash of light: a blinding light of 100 suns. The storm appeared seemingly out
of nowhere. The lookouts hadn't alerted us to the approaching storm before it
hit with all of its fury.

Panic and chaos replaced the clam serene dream voyage which I so cherished.
Our dream trip was now a nightmare: we had to work hard and at a furious
pace to try to get back on course. In sheer desperation all hands manned the
sails being torn from the masts by the vicious storm. The pilot desperately
wrestled the wheel to keep the ship heading into the wind, so we would not
capsize. Everything was happening so fast I cannot remember all of the details.

My next memory is of the someone yelling "Waterfall!". This magnificent ship
was on a collision course with tons of raging water which would swallow
everyone's dreams and their lives. I was disoriented and utterly helpless in a
blur of excited activity.

The ship went over the falls and was dashed into splinters. I survived being able
to ride the racing water fall inside a well built; heavy duty barrel able to sustain
careening into the boulders at the bottom: a terrifying trip.
I was rescued the next day.

The rest of my life has been torture and torment. Day and night the horrific scenes
come and go: I have never gone near the ocean again.

Word Count: 597