Part Two: a wild set of mariners enough

First of the "wild set of mariners" to arrive is Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Worsley, Antarctic explorers and all around Men. Quite seriously, Shackleton is one of my heroes. I know that these days it's not cool to have heroes, but I often find myself thinking, "what would Shackleton do?" I mean, I'm an all out citizen of Wussbagia. I don't have the fortitude to go day sailing in my little protected Bay when it's super gusty, raining, or there's a brutal headwind (though I did go out in Persuasion once for about an hour when it was 34 degrees and blowing like a mother). Shack's ship was eaten by the ice and instead of being all soft and crying about it and looking for a federal taxpayer bailout Shack knew "he needed to act to secure the party's deliverance." Read about His Studliness here. I include Worsley because he was equally as tough: Vice Admiral of Manliness. When the two of them come in they say, "damn, it's too hot in here, open a bloody window! And a round of Guinness for all the men. And I guess we'll let Redwing have one, too."

Second to arrive is Joshua Slocum. A fairly obvious choice, but fuggit, it's my dinner and I can invite who I want. I'd love to hear about Capt Slocum's final sail, and hear the sea stories that didn't make it into the book. When he arrives at the Spouter-Inn he thanks Shackleton for the Guinness and sits at a table by himself, though he does chat amiably with all who muster the courage to approach.

Next is another hero: Joseph Conrad. Sailor and Author. I'm pretty sure English was his third language (behind Polish and French). Heart of Darkness. Fulk. Secret Sharer. Victory. Typhoon. His third novel. And Lord Jim, the one I can never get through. I'm sure he'd tell some interesting sea stories.

Next is Cayard; then Vito Dumas because I think he's hilarious; Valerian Albanov, also not from Wussbagia; and good, old Herman Melville: you gotta have the author of Moby Dick over for dinner when you can!

Eat, drink, and be merry!