\u201cAll hands, secure from General Quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no finer call at sea than to stand down from general quarters. It means whatever was threatening the ship is no longer a danger. It also means sailors can get back to their normal routine.<\/p>\n
We had gone to general quarters last night and sleepily drove past midnight to be on time for the delivery. When we arrived, we were met by a tired, expectant mother who said, \u201cMom, what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Even I knew this was code for, \u201cAll hands, secure from General Quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ardis was expecting little Anna to join the family last night and was, for some reason, more anxious than a first time father. I don\u2019t understand why, she should have known better; she is an experienced grandmother now, with two other grandkids under her belt.<\/p>\n
When she came into the office last night, I should have been more forceful. I should have stood my ground. I might have been okay if I had said, \u201cWe\u2019ll go in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
When I tried saying, \u201cWe\u2019ll go in the morning,\u201d she did the big sad puppy eyes routine on me. I hate it when girls do that. A guy doesn\u2019t have a chance when the big puppy dog eyes come out.<\/p>\n
So, there we were, driving down the backcountry roads of North Florida to get to the blessed event.<\/p>\n
Yesterday\u2019s blog was short. Today\u2019s is even shorter. I\u2019m just too tired… At least I have secured from General Quarters.<\/p>\n
However, this one sailor nowhere near back to his normal routine.<\/p>\n
-30-<\/p>\n
\u00a92010 J. Clark<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cAll hands, secure from General Quarters.\u201d There is no finer call at sea than to stand down from general quarters. It means whatever was threatening the ship is no longer a danger. It also means sailors can get back to … Continue reading