Ahoy Lads n Lasses,

We es finally hom from r encredible journey. I knowed I promised ya pectures, but taday I feel a need ta talk wit you n me crew about Memorial Day ere en z USA, so listen up.

The best way I know how ta do this es through pectures n a prayer. So join me n me crew en a bit o'a time out, ta pray fer z souls of the fallen men n wummens who gave their lives so all of us can live free.

A Memorial Day Prayer

By Rev. Dick Kozelka (ret)
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN.

Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?

Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your lovingkindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].

We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things' going meaninglessly well.

God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
Bless those whose dear ones have died
needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]
in accident or misadventure.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries
in the futility of combat.

There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

  

  

Rum aboard z JollyRoger!

Thar r two Salamagundi recepies below fer ya. For either of em, you will need 1 large kettle, 20 galons o' cold water (or more if ya like yer stew runny) a sack o'salt, three sacks o'pepper, and 200 garlic cloves. Add these thangs tagether ta taste.

Recipe #1:  use white meat such as fish, crab, lobster, eel, chickens er pigeons, (pluck to taste), snakes, pigs, cats or whatever ya find wanderin on the beach. Add lots of wine er rum - several small casks at minimum. Add Jamacian spices, 1 barrel o'anchovies, 27 heads o'cabbage, fruit, 250 eggs (witout  shells), 50 onions (peel em ferst), 3 casks o'cookin oil, and what ere else luuks good in yer gallee. Serve ta yer crew wit two pints o'rum per man.

Landin partee ashore searches fer Salamagundi additives!

Recipe #2:  use red meat such as big cows, small cows, camels, rats, wild dogs, bear, moose, ducks, spiders, er what ere else ya find when yer landing party scours z shore. Like above, use lots of wine, spices, fruit or cabbage, garlic, eggs, n onions. Serve wit two pints o'rum per man (note: if'n ya used rat meat, increase ta four pints per man).

Combine ingredents, cept z meat, en z kettle. Bring et ta a boil, then simmer fer a few hours. Make sure all animals are dead n skinned (in that order) before addin them to the mix. Simmer for about 6 hours. Direct all who will eat this rot to drink one cask of rum prior to serving. B aware that this mix o'rum n Salamagundi makes ya want ta limbo n do other strange, yet wunderful things.

Et es delicious. We ad some just z other day.

Sail on, folks.

The Capt.