"A Brave Vessel" by Hobson Woodward (2006)

Here is a story which I apparently missed, and it’s a good one. One evening in 1611, Richard Strachey was sitting in a theater in England watching a play by William Shakespeare, a new one called “The Tempest”, when he began to recognize portions of the dialogue as being overly familiar. It should not have come as such a surprise, as Mr. Strachey had written those same words; or at least ones very close to it; when he had written home during a voyage to rescue the colonists at Jamestown, in Virginia, about 2 years earlier. He had also written about his experiences for a few small publications, which had undoubtedly crossed the eyes of the Great Bard.

Although Shakespeare’s play is an allegorical one, the island depicted in it is decidedly based upon the real island of Bermuda, the place Mr. Strachey found himself stranded when his vessel broke apart in a storm while headed to Jamestown. From that island the survivors were able to reach Virginia and in some measure keep the colony alive during the first few winters.

The Sea Venture was one of nine ships which set sail on a voyage to establish connections between Jamestown and England. During the voyage across, every obstacle that could befall a ship and her crew was visited upon these nine vessels. The Sea Venture, with a compliment of 153, all survived and found them- selves aground in Bermuda. From there, going directly west, they could make landfall near the colony of Jamestown. But first they would have to survive themselves, as well as repair their ship.

Author Hobson Woodson really got my attention with this story, which was unfamiliar to me. It delivers just the right hint of scandal, without compromising the accuracy of the real history. Had the Sea Venture failed in her mission, the history of the colonization of America might well have been written differently than it turned out. 

The book was released in 2006, and it sits in the “stacks”, apparently seldom read, of my local library. This is what I love most about libraries. You can wander the aisles and sometimes there is nothing there at all. But then; on another visit; a book which you passed by hundreds of times, catches your eye. 

And, for some odd reason or another; perhaps the cover, or the weather; you pick it up and take it home. That’s when you find something which enriches your life with some new found knowledge, seemingly unimportant in the past, but which you just couldn't live without knowing about now.

A Moose From Thanksgiving Past

I was kind of startled yesterday when I saw this image on MSN.com about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You might wonder why. And there is a simple answer to that question; I was there, at the parade shown on the left. The one with Bullwinkle the Moose from Rocky and His Friends. It was 1966, so I was 12 years old, according to the date stamped on the border of my own photograph, which is printed below. I actually posted it here a few years ago for the holiday.

My Uncle Irving used to take us from Brooklyn to Manhattan every Christmas for the Christmas Pageant at Radio City Music Hall. This always included a live Camel, and some Sheep. The magic moment always came when the stage lights turned blue, heralding the arrival of the baby Jesus. Whether, or not you are a Christian is not relevant at all, it is simply a magnificent presentation. And I was always amazed at my Uncle's reaction to it, as he was Jewish. He would quietly sob, taken by the emotion of the moment. But, I am straying.

In 1966, for whatever reason, he asked me to meet him in Manhattan, for the Macy's Parade, and so I did. That's when I took this picture of Bullwinkle, which I still have, obviously. Thanksgiving then was always a day for family; in our case it was just the 4 of us and Uncle Irving. It doesn't seem like such a big thing to remember, but I do. And, on holidays, I tend to think of Uncle "I" more than usual. Over the years I have come to realize that, on all occasions in our home, he was the star attraction. He was the one that never yelled at my brother and I, never judged us, never discouraged us. His memory is the one thing I will never relinquish from my childhood. And, when I give thanks today, his memory will be one of the many things I am thankful for.

I started out just wanting to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. But, I tend to wander a bit. If you can't be with family, I hope you find yourself in the company of some good friends. And, with so much going on to divide us - let's take this one day to be thankful for the things we have in common, as well as our common needs.

Have a wonderful, and safe holiday. Make a memory with someone, about someone, or for someone. You may never get to know it, but they will be glad you did.