4703-R4_CC_ChebeagueIsland_February2017_Calendar_Web

Marty’s Memories: The Queen Mary by Marty Trower

I have another cold temperature story, although the actual event took place in the summer and it really wasn’t that long ago. I was out on the water with Tom Rothschild on his sailboat, Lyra . Tom’s friend from Boston, Beatrice, was visiting and said she had heard the Queen Mary was going to be in Portland that day. Always looking for an adventure, Tom interpreted this news as “Beatrice really wants to see the Queen Mary ” and off we went. Very soon, between Chebeague and Portland, the weather became awful. Without getting nautically technical, I’ll just say that it was hugely rough and very, very wet. Tom tried a few times to change course, but nothing seemed to stop the relentless onslaughts of cold salt water. Beatrice and I were blue and shaking. We were as wet as the water surrounding us and covering us every few minutes. Finally, Beatrice said something to the effect of “I really don’t care if I see the Queen Mary now or ever.” But Tom wouldn’t accept that. “I know how much you want to see the ship, and by golly we’re going there!”

Finally, the massive hull became visible far ahead— really just a long gray blob in the sky. Maybe that was the horizon, but the roiling clouds and water were just one and the same at this point. Fortunately, this sufficed for having “seen the Queen Mary ,” and we went about and sailed home. That should have been the end of the story, but it was the aftermath that left such a lasting impression. The shaking didn’t stop when I got home. I thought a hot bath might do the trick. Instead it was more like like what I imagine it would be like to have lightning zip through your entire body on a frenetic, neverending roller coaster ride. Thankfully, this extreme sensation didn’t last that long. Yet now when I get really cold and then go into a warm place, I find myself actually enjoying the winter experience of rapid temperature change. Perhaps it’s because I think of Tom. I sure miss him, the most enthusiastic and generous sailor who loved to share his passion for being alive in so many ways, but especially on the water.

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FEBRUARY 2017 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR