Today is the observed first day of summer, though the real first day of summer is not for weeks, so we thought we’d pull into port and join all the Memorial Day celebrations.  We’ll start with the serious stuff and get silly from there.

The official origins of Memorial Day are sketchy, but it basically started in the 1860s when people wanted to honor and remember those who gave their lives in the Civil War.  After World War I, it changed to honor all who died in any war.  And it became an official federal holiday (in the US) by an act of Congress in 1971.  So, might I suggest, between the hot dogs and the belly flops, take a moment to remember those who have fought and died for our freedom.  And those who will die today, and tomorrow, and the next day.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

-         Moina Michael

Now onto the silly stuff.  Here’s what the crew will be doing on shore leave.  *Note: these are true testimonies of the Pirates herein and I take no responsibility for their accuracy or debauchery.

The Captain will be depleting her alcohol stores: cold beer in the fridge, rum behind the bookcase, and wine given to her by a faculty member with the title “Grad-zilla Eraser”. She is going to do her damnedest to erase the Grad-zillas she’s had to put up with the last few weeks and think of new and creative ways to stop doing folders.

In honor of our fallen heroes, Gunner Marnee will also be drinking alcohol, though probably something girlie, like whiskey or tequila.  She will also be stuffing herself with her fair share of salads and burgers in their honor, attempting to wrangle her son, and keep her adult cool when the teenagers next door set off fireworks at ungodly hours, as they are wont to do during holidays of patriotic classification.
 
Beyond that, she would like to write her sex scene as she’d expect her characters are sexually frustrated at this point and she almost feels bad about stringing them on in this fashion.  Almost. (editor’s note: love that whiskey is considered a girlie drink.)

Powder Monkey Lisa will be celebrating L’il Pirate Chad’s birthday with an inflatable party and 30 kids. She will need Valium in the worst way:) PM will also be cooking out on Monday and doing the usual placing of flowers on relatives graves. (editor’s note: bonus points for Lisa.)

Quarter Master Sin’s got nothing. She could make up something really awesome and people would believe it, like roasting said kittens Hellion was saving (inside joke – just go with it) and selling them as kabobs to hungry orphans. But that would seem rather mean. Just a little bit.

Honorary Pirate Queen and Whip Wielder Dee will be relaxing, watching Blockbuster movies and WRITING. (editor’s note: no need to show off.)

And I, Bo’sun Terrio, am leaving my options open.  I’m pretty sure there will be time spent at the community pool (where I will be hiding far from the water’s edge pretending to write) and lots of sleeping.  Did I mention sleeping?

It’s your turn.  What are you doing today?  And contrary to what’s written above, don’t be surprised if most of us just end up playing online today.  Or sleeping.