an introduction

For a while now I've wanted to do a little writing. I've had the itch, you know? I don't figure on writing the great American novel or anything like that. I don't see myself as a great writer. Not even a mediocre one. I'm no Harriet Beecher Thoreau; no F. Scott Steinbeck; certainly no Ralph Waldo Hemingway. Except for occasional writing assignments in high school, I've never really tried to write anything before. To be honest, I didn't try very hard back then! But, here's the thing: I was in the Navy for 23 years.

Yeah, I know, what does that have to do with anything? Does being in the Navy make someone a writer? If it did, we'd be up to our ear lobes in writers, wouldn't we? But, I've been to a few places and I've seen a few things, and I've done a few things that not too many people get the opportunity to go to, or to see, or to do. So, I have all of these 'tall tales' whirling around inside my head. In the Navy we used to call them 'sea stories.' They were called other things, but that's the only nice, socially-acceptable term I can think of.

At this point in my life, I just want to take this 'pencil and paper' I'm typing on and jot down a few memories while they're still available, if you know what I mean. They probably won't mean much to anyone but me, but, it's just something I've been wanting to do. So, for what it's worth, here goes. If I seem to ramble too much or go off-subject a lot, well . . . that's just the way my mind works. This is just me and my memories.

So, if you have a few minutes to waste, take a look and see what you think.

Thanks for stopping by.

Ken