Location: Fiji to Palau
Back in the olden days when pirates ruled the seas, or just three years ago if you are Papa New Guinea, ships of people would wash ashore dirty, haggard, branded by pirate battle, and worse of all, BALD! Yes, crews full of baldies would dock after having sacrificed all they could to the sea gods to earn safe passage from pirates. This ghastly sight will be the crew of Argo by tomorrow evening as we all come to face the ocean master Neptune. Neptune, the Roman Sea God, plans to meet us at the equator tomorrow around noon to see if we will be worthy of crossing the ocean safely. Rumor has it he demands costumes, offerings, and performances …. how needy can a guy get? Prep for this has been going on for a few days now, with mysterious tea-stained letters showing up on beds. BUT in case this all goes south, instead of north, we also made sure to practice some abandoning and sinking ship drills.
We all donned our bright orange life vests and set out to pump out the “water,” otherwise known as air, from the cabins as part of our safety drills, which we do every so often. We were more determined than ever to please Neptune for a safe passage across the equator. Not only is fear setting in, but the sun’s heat does wonders to make a girl want to please the sea gods so she can get the heck away from the equator. We have been flirting with the equator, sitting just a degree or less from it all day, just for the 12 o’clock arrival, and man, let me tell you, we need to get this show on the road. Showers are a state of mind as the heads are even warmer than the rest of the boat and leave you cleansing your pores with great gobs of sweat after every rinse. Luckily, to make up for this pool of sweat, we all live in that’s getting dangerously close to flooding the boat, everyone has cracked into a can of fruit a day. This fruit ensures that we will still look healthy by the time Neptune gets to watch our performances, all free of scurvy. Gabe says that protein and potatoes are enough to keep scurvy away, but I’m not sure I believe him.
Furthermore, this singular can of fruit a day ensures my sanity and is my lifeline to juice.
All in all, we eat well, so never fear nervous parents – we won’t be lacking nutrients. Now its time for me to plan out my elaborate ever changing performance for tomorrow that will include among other things a pink fuzzy steering wheel. A thumbs up to all the parents and readers From the crew of Argo. Also, P.S. to my mum, tomorrow I have to cook for everyone, and the galley is not known to be forgiving temperature, so farewell if I melt away – LLKKHH