Hello, It's Me!

I'm new-ish, and back from a weekend trip to Lake Erie for Labor Day weekend. The past two days have been spent readjusting to the daily grind. It was a fun-filled time even though it had rained a lot of the time, but we were still able to enjoy many of the sites. My personal favorite was the Maritime Museum, even though the brig, Niagra wasn't there. I loved the historical artifacts from the original brig, and it's sister brig, the Wolverine/Michigan and various other sloops and schooners in Perry's fleet. My kids posed for pictures with the assorted cannons, shouting warnings to imagined Royal Navy adversaries before blasting them with a full broadside. But alas, while we spent the last day on a tour boat of Presque Isle Bay and part of the open lake itself, what did pass us? Why it was the brig itself, well the reproduction actually. Yep, the Niagra was heading for the channel with a crew of students to learn how to put her under full sail on open water. And we got to cruise alongside, about thirty yards away. It was an awe-inspiring sight while it flew the United States flag, the flag of Pennsylvania, and the jack bearing the ship's motto: Don't give up the ship! While I was wowed, I wanted to board and commandeer her, with the mindset to not give up the ship. But reality set in and I was returned to the daily grind. It was difficult being unable to write all weekend, particularly since I had so much in mind. But now I'm back, and ready to go!